A Shocking Discovery About Mars' Core Formation

Recent groundbreaking experiments suggest that Mars' core formed at a staggering speed compared to Earth's, thanks to molten iron and nickel sulfides flowing through solid rock and pooling in the heart of the Red Planet.

Layered Like an Onion: The Structure of Planets

Planets are organized in layers, akin to an onion. At the surface lies the crust, followed by the mantle, and deep within are the solid outer core and molten inner core, which churn to create a global magnetic field.

How Do Elements Differentiate?

This layering process, known as "differentiation," allows heavier elements like iron and nickel to sink toward a planet's center, while lighter silicates remain closer to the surface. Traditionally, scientists believed that this sinking required a molten interior, primarily driven by radioactive decay.

Mars: The Unlikely Speedster of Core Formation

While Earth's core formation stretched over a billion years, Mars defies this timeline. Evidence from Martian meteorites indicates that its core began materializing just a few million years after the solar system's birth. This raises intriguing questions about how Mars could develop so rapidly.

NASA's ARES Division Finds the Answer

Scientists from NASA's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division believe they've cracked the code. They propose that Mars, formed from a gas and dust disk around the young sun, had a unique position that allowed it access to both heavy and lighter elements essential for rapid core formation.

A Lab Experiment with Real Implications

In high-temperature experiments at NASA, researchers melted sulfate-rich rock to observe how molten sulfides moved through tiny cracks in solid rock. The team, led by Sam Crossley, produced stunning 3D renderings that revealed the percolation of sulfides.

From Lab Insights to Cosmic Evidence

To validate their hypothesis, the scientists searched for chemical evidence of sulfide percolation in meteorites. They discovered that partially melting synthetic sulfides released trace platinum-group metals, matching patterns found in oxygen-rich meteorites.

Uncovering the Stinky Truth About Mars' Core

Lead researcher Crossley asserts that this process, enabling dense melts to migrate to a planetary core before surrounding rock melts, applies to various celestial bodies in similar regions of the protoplanetary disk. Consequently, scientists predict that Mars’ core is rich in sulfur—an element notorious for its rotten egg odor!

What This Means for Mars and Beyond

These findings not only illuminate the mysteries of Mars' formation but also potentially reshape our understanding of how other large planetary bodies formed in the early solar system. Could other planets share this sulfur-rich, odorous core? Only further exploration and research will tell!