On the rugged slopes of Martian mountains, a captivating sight reminiscent of flowing honey emerges, entwined in dust and frozen meticulously over time. What appears to be a miraculous natural wonder is, in fact, astonishingly slow-moving glaciers that have puzzled scientists for decades.

For years, experts hypothesized that these glacial formations were predominantly rocky, encasing only a fraction of ice. However, groundbreaking research published in *Icarus* reveals a stunning new reality: many glaciers on Mars contain more than 80% pure water ice. This revelation is monumental, reshaping our understanding of Martian climate history and suggesting this ice could be vital for human endeavors on the Red Planet.

The study was spearheaded by Yuval Steinberg, a fresh graduate from Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, alongside experienced co-authors Oded Aharonson and Isaac Smith from the Planetary Science Institute.

Aharonson emphasized the global impact of NASA's scientific missions, stating, "This study illustrates how NASA programs significantly enhance scientific knowledge not just in the U.S., but worldwide."

Dive Beneath the Dust