Scientists discover massive underground 'thermal anomaly' on Mars
Researchers have identified a significant thermal anomaly deep within the southern hemisphere of Mars, where temperatures are up to 400 degrees Celsius warmer than in the north. Using 'tidal tomography' on archival NASA data, scientists are challenging the assumption that planetary interiors are spherically symmetric.
Why it matters
This discovery fundamentally changes our understanding of Martian geological history and the internal structure of terrestrial planets.
Solar System Mars Scientists discover massive 'thermal anomaly' beneath the surface of Mars News By Keith Cooper Published 31 August 2026 "Scientists usually assume that the interiors of planetary bodies are generally spherically symmetric, but this is not necessarily true."
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Click for next article A cross-section of Mars, showing the hotter interior of the southern hemisphere. (Image credit: NASA/Theophilus Britt Griswold) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter New research into the interior of Mars further emphasizes that the Red Planet is a world of two very different halves.
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