For centuries, Mars has captivated scientists and the public alike with its striking red hue. Early astronomers speculated that the planet’s color came from iron-rich minerals, much like rust on Earth.

A study, conducted in part by NASA, indicates why Mars is red — and, more importantly, what this says about potential life on Mars.

New research suggests that Mars' recognisable rusty hue comes from a water-rich iron mineral called ferrihydrite – and isn’t, in fact, the result of a dry mineral known as hem

By combining observations from space and experiments on Earth, scientists rethink the red planet's history and why it's red.