A team of researchers discovered a significant thermal anomaly under Mars' south pole. The planet's interior shows a strong thermal asymmetry, with the southern hemisphere being hundreds of degrees warmer than the northern hemisphere.
Based on gravitational measurements that provide clues about Mars' internal structure, the scientists determined that the southern hemisphere's interior is about 200 to 400 degrees Celsius warmer than the northern half of the planet and is partially molten.
This surprising discovery adds more context to Martian history and the periods when the planet may have had conditions favorable to life.
The research was led by Alexander Berne, a former Caltech student, who is also a coauthor of the study on the Martian thermal anomaly.
