Mars Express Reveals Rapid Spread of Volcanic Ash Across Martian Landscape

22 articles · Updated · Livescience.com · Apr 20

New images from ESA's Mars Express show a vast patch of dark volcanic ash spreading across Mars's Utopia Planitia region over the past 50 years.
The dark area, first photographed by NASA's Viking probes in 1976, has expanded by at least 200 miles, likely due to Martian winds.
Scientists believe the ash is from ancient volcanic eruptions, and its movement may reveal more about Mars's geological activity and subsurface ice.

Is the expanding dark ash on Mars revealing its ancient past or creating a new future landscape?

How does the darkening surface of Mars affect its thin atmosphere and long-term climate change?

Beyond wind and ice, what hidden energy is truly driving the geological pulse of modern Mars?

Could the same forces pulling Mars' crust apart today threaten future human settlements on the planet?

If Martian ice can preserve life for millions of years, what is preventing us from drilling for it now?

How will the discovery of a 'living' Mars alter the 2028 Rosalind Franklin rover's mission goals?