Mars' atmosphere hidden by clays

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Mars atmosphere mystery

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Mars

Space

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Where did Mars' atmosphere go? Scientists say it may be 'hiding in plain sight'

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New research suggests Mars ' atmosphere may be hiding in plain sight, having been absorbed by minerals in the Red Planet's clays.

If Mars ' envelope of gas did "go to ground" over 3 billion years ago , this could explain how Earth 's neighboring planet became so different from our world.

The researchers concentrated on a type of surface clay mineral called "smectite," which is very efficient at trapping carbon.

The team found that to store the amount of methane needed to leach most of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere of Mars , the Red Planet would have had to be covered with a layer of smectite over 3,600 feet ( 1,100 meters ) deep.

The team's research was published Sept. 25 in the journal Science Advances .

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