Oxford Scientists Find 15-Mile-Deep Magma Network on Mars, Expanding Clues to Past Habitability
Updated
Updated · Daily Star · Jul 22
Oxford Scientists Find 15-Mile-Deep Magma Network on Mars, Expanding Clues to Past Habitability
3 articles · Updated · Daily Star · Jul 22
Summary
A layer about 15 miles beneath Mars was likely formed by magma pooling and spreading across thousands of miles, according to Oxford researchers analyzing NASA InSight seismic data.
Meteor-impact tremors and marsquakes recorded by InSight point to an interconnected subsurface magma system, challenging the older view that Martian volcanoes were fed by isolated chambers.
That network could have built a chemically diverse crust and recycled elements through geological processes, potentially helping sustain an atmosphere and oceans without plate tectonics.
The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, broaden the range of worlds that may be considered habitable and suggest Mars may hold more near-surface mineral resources for future missions.
Could a hidden network of magma rivers make Mars the next gold rush for humanity?
Did ancient magma rivers make Mars a secret twin to early Earth?
If Mars rewrites the rules for life, how many habitable planets have we overlooked?
Mars’ Deep Magma Networks Discovered: Redefining Planetary Habitability and Geological Activity
Overview
A major discovery announced in July 2026 has transformed our understanding of Mars. Using seismic data collected by NASA’s InSight mission, researchers from the University of Oxford found vast, interconnected magma systems deep beneath the Martian surface. By studying how seismic waves moved through the crust, scientists mapped Mars’ internal structure and revealed regions where molten rock once flowed. This challenges the old belief that planets without tectonic plates, like Mars, are geologically inactive and unlikely to support life. The finding suggests Mars was much more dynamic, opening new possibilities for its past habitability.