Scientists discovered a molten layer at the base of Mars’s mantle that affects its evolution and magnetic field.
A new study has revealed that Mars has a layer of molten silicates at the base of its mantle, above its metallic core. This finding challenges the previous estimates of the internal structure of the red planet, which were based on the first data from the InSight mission.
The InSight mission, which landed on Mars in 2018, deployed a seismometer to measure the seismic waves generated by quakes and meteorite impacts on the planet. By analyzing these waves, scientists could infer the size and density of Mars’s core, mantle, and crust in a series of papers published in 2021.
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