For decades, scientists believed that Mars’ red color came from hematite, a type of iron oxide that forms under dry conditions. This theory aligned with the prevailing view of Mars as a planet that lost its water billions of years ago, leaving behind a desolate, rusted landscape. But Valantinas and his team have turned this idea on its head.

By combining observations from space and experiments on Earth, scientists rethink the red planet's history and why it's red.

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.