The depression was probably formed by a volcano beneath a glacier and could have been a warm, chemical-rich environment well suited for microbial life.

The first color view of the site since the lander's Oct. 19, 2016, arrival! 

"Whether there was explosive volcanism on Mars and how much of it there was is an important question in terms of finding out what the past climate was like."

With the new tool, scientists could determine if Martian dust contained organic particles created relatively recently or in the past.

Essential data from the ExoMars Schiaparelli lander sent to its mothership Trace Gas Orbiter during the module’s descent to the Red Planet’s surface yesterday has been downlinked to Earth and is currently being analysed by experts.

New global images of Mars from the MAVEN mission show the ultraviolet glow from the Martian atmosphere in unprecedented detail, revealing dynamic, previously invisible behavior.

Researchers have demonstrated for the first time how an asteroid or comet could have caused a mega crater on Mars' largest moon Phobos -- which resembles the Death Star from the film "Star Wars" -- without completely destroying the satellite.

Exposure to these particles can pose "unique hazards" to astronauts, with the effects persisting long after actual space travel.