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Young Martian Ice Cap Reveals Secrets of Planet's Mantle

3/1/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Mars's northern polar ice cap is a surprisingly young feature, dating back only 2 to 12 million years, according to researchers from the German Aerospace Center. Their findings reveal that the ice cap is slowly pressing down on the surface beneath it at a rate of 0.13 millimeters per year, hinting at a rigid and frigid Martian mantle.

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Story summary

Mars's northern polar ice cap is a surprisingly young feature, dating back only 2 to 12 million years, according to researchers from the German Aerospace Center. Their findings reveal that the ice cap is slowly pressing down on the surface beneath it at a rate of 0.13 millimeters per year, hinting at a rigid and frigid Martian mantle.