A study suggests Mars takes its red hue from a type of mineral that forms in cool water, which could reveal insights about whether Mars was ever able to support life.

The Red Planet, as it’s often called, has a distinct hue, and a new theory about this coloration could have implications for our understanding of Mars' evolution.

In the 1970s, images from the NASA Mariner 9 orbiter revealed water-sculpted surfaces on Mars. This settled the once-controversial question of whether water ever rippled over the red planet.

New research shows that the red dust on Mars contains ferrihydrite, a water-rich iron oxide. It's evidence that the planet rusted in water.

Martian dust is mostly rust. Mars’s famed color has captivated humankind for centuries, earning its nickname of the ‘Red Planet’. Romans named Mars for their god of war because its colour was reminiscent of blood, while Egyptians called it ‘Her Desher’, meaning ‘the red one.’ CREDIT: A.Valantinas.

Thanks to new research techniques published today, scientists say that "our understanding of why Mars is red has been transformed."

New research has revealed that Martian dust's red hue comes from reactions that occurred in wet — not dry — conditions, and it could have implications for the possibility of life on the planet.

New findings suggest Mars rusted early in the planet's ancient past, when liquid water was more widespread on the surface resulting in the famous red dust.

Mars is widely known for its iconic rusty red color — many people even refer to it as just the "Red Planet" — but new research suggests the Martian shade isn't just lovely to look at. The chemistry behind Mars' rosy hue may actually hold important information about our cosmic neighbor.

Mars has been red for millions of years longer than previously thought, suggests new research. The study has "transformed" understanding of how the "r ed planet " developed its distinct hue, say American scientists.