Mars might not be your go-to vacation spot—no air, deadly radiation, and a severe lack of beachside margaritas.
But once upon a time? Scientists now say the Red Planet had actual beaches lapping at the shores of an ancient ocean.
Mars Had An Entire Ecosystem
Researchers debated whether Mars had more than just rivers and valleys for years.
Now, thanks to underground radar scans from China’s Zhurong rover, they’ve found something game-changing: buried shorelines.
“This is the kind of stuff that makes geologists giddy,” said Dr. Benjamin Cardenas from Penn State University.
The data shows sloping layers of sediment, tilting north—just like Earth’s coastal formations.
“That means tides, waves, and a river feeding into the ocean. Mars wasn’t just wet—it had an entire ecosystem of moving water.”
Worth Researching Further
While alternative explanations—volcanoes, wind, or rivers—were considered, none fit the evidence.
And here’s the kicker: Beaches on Earth are hotspots for life’s origins.
Could Mars have once supported life? Cardenas thinks it’s worth investigating.
