The Supermassive Podcast A Watery History of Mars
Nov 1, 2025
Join Robert Massey, Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society, Joe McNeil, a Martian geologist, and Sian Prosser, an archivist, as they dive into Mars' fascinating watery history. Discover when Mars last had liquid water and the evidence for its rivers and lakes. Joe reveals the geological features shaped by water, while Sian shares intriguing historical maps and the myth of Martian canals. The trio also discusses water's significance for potential human missions and its implications for life, past and present, on the Red Planet.
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Ancient Warm And Watery Mars
- Early Mars (~3.8–4 billion years ago) had a thicker CO2 atmosphere that allowed stable liquid water on the surface.
- Evidence includes valley networks, cemented materials, and water-formed minerals found by orbiters and rovers.
Surface Features Point To Flowing Water
- Landforms like dendritic valley networks and river deltas strongly resemble Earth rivers and point to past rainfall and flowing water.
- Outflow channels and possible shorelines suggest catastrophic floods and a debated northern ocean.
Comet Delivery And Mineral Clues
- Water on Mars was likely delivered by icy bodies like comets early in solar system history.
- Mineralogy (clays, sulfates) confirms long-term rock–water interaction and dried lake deposits.
