The planet Mars is home to thick layers of clay that can span hundreds of feet. Since they need water to form, these outcrops have long been of interest to scientists looking for signs of past life on ...

New research suggests that the thick, mineral-rich layers of clay found on Mars could hold the key to understanding whether the Red Planet ever harbored life. These layers, thought to have formed ...

A clay-rich mesa in the Hellas basin of Mars. The blue color near the rim is aluminum bearing clays. The red-orange color below that is iron and magnesium bearing clays. The image captures an area ...