There's Evidence Volcanoes Are Active on Mars, Raising Chances of Recent Habitability - ScienceAlert

A new, close study of volcanic features on the surface of the red planet has found that a lava deposit on the Elysium Planitia appears to be very recent indeed - as in, within the last 50,000 years.

And it could mean that Mars was potentially habitable just as recently, with parts of it similar to regions of volcanic activity in glacial areas such as Iceland, where various forms of extremophile bacteria thrive.

Now, using satellite data, a team of astronomers led by Horvath has found another clue - a volcanic deposit on the Elysium Planitia, a broad, smooth plain just north of Mars' equator.

Most volcanic features on the Martian surface are from surface lava flows, not volcanic explosions, although explosive volcanic features are certainly not unknown.

Put together, the two pieces of evidence suggest that activity inside Mars may be ongoing.

It's important not to over-interpret the detections, since near-surface lava so late in Mars' life is unlikely without the presence of surface lava flows, and therefore deeper magma is required to explain the eruption.

This could help plan out future Mars missions by providing a location where evidence of life might be found