Transient liquid water and water activity at Gale crater on Mars

Mars Science Laboratory Mission and Science Investigation

Grotzinger, J. P., Crisp, J. A., Vasavada, A. R., Anderson, R. C., Baker, C. J., Barry, R., Blake, D. F., Conrad, P. G., Edgett, K. S., Ferdowski, B., et al. (2012) · Space Science Reviews · doi:10.1007/s11214-012-9892-2 · Cited by 876

Interannual variability in TES atmospheric observations of Mars during 1999–2003

Smith, M. D. (2003) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2003.09.010 · Cited by 846

Life as we know it

Friston, K. (2013) · Journal of The Royal Society Interface · doi:10.1098/rsif.2013.0475 · Cited by 754

Behavior of Carbon Dioxide and Other Volatiles on Mars

Leighton, R. B., & Murray, B. C. (1966) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.153.3732.136 · Cited by 542

Volatile, isotope, and organic analysis of Martian fines with the Mars Curiosity Rover

Leshin, L. A., Mahaffy, P. R., Webster, C. R., Cabane, M., Coll, P., Conrad, P. G., Archer, P. D., Atreya, S. K., Brunner, A. E., Buch, A., et al. (2013) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1238937 · Cited by 458

Volatile and Organic Compositions of Sedimentary Rocks in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars

Ming, D. W., Archer, P. D., GLAVIN, D. P., Eigenbrode, J. L., Franz, H. B., Sutter, B., Brunner, A., Stern, J. C., Freissinet, C., McAdam, A. C., et al. (2013) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1245267 · Cited by 405

A New Analysis of Mars “Special Regions”: Findings of the Second MEPAG Special Regions Science Analysis Group (SR-SAG2)

Rummel, J. D., Beaty, D. W., Jones, M. A., Bakermans, C., Barlow, N. G., Boston, P. J., Chevrier, V. F., Clark, B. C., Vera, J.-P. P. D., Gough, R. V., et al. (2014) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2014.1227 · Cited by 395

PlanetWRF: A general purpose, local to global numerical model for planetary atmospheric and climate dynamics

Richardson, M., Toigo, A., & Newman, C. (2007) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2006je002825 · Cited by 317

Corrosion of Aluminium

(2004) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-044495-6.x5000-9 · Cited by 316

REMS: The Environmental Sensor Suite for the Mars Science Laboratory Rover

Gómez‐Elvira, J., Armiens, C., Castañer, L., Domínguez-Pumar, M., Genzer, M., Gómez, F., Haberle, R. M., Harri, A., Jimenez, V., Kahanpää, H., et al. (2012) · Space Science Reviews · doi:10.1007/s11214-012-9921-1 · Cited by 310

Effective Formation of Surface Flow due to Salt Precipitation within Soils upon Repeated Brine Seepages on Mars

Imamura, S., Sekine, Y., Maekawa, Y., Kurokawa, H., & Sasaki, T. (2021) · Icarus · doi:10.1002/essoar.10508112.1 · Cited by 1

Comparative study on cavernous weathering features formed by coastal processes and acidic alteration: Implications for rounded pits on Martian rocks

Sugiuchi, M., Sekine, Y., & Takahashi, S. (2023) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115889 · Cited by 1

Legal Implications of the Space Colonization and the UAE’s Sustainable Approach towards Mars Mission

Daniel, S. S., & Abbas, S. (2024) · Journal of East Asia and International Law · doi:10.14330/jeail.2024.17.1.07 · Cited by 1

Effects of temperature, chloride and perchlorate salt concentration on the metabolic activity of Deinococcus radiodurans

Symeonidou, E., Jørgensen, U. G., Madsen, M. B., & Priemé, A. (2024) · Extremophiles · doi:10.1007/s00792-024-01351-5 · Cited by 1

Advanced Martian construction: High-strength ISRU bricks, robust sulfur bonding, modular assembly, and FEA-verified pyramid habitats

Sun, W., Zhao, J., Yan, H., Jiang, S., & Lou, T. (2025) · Journal of Building Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113356 · Cited by 1

Development of a Heuristic Thermal Control System for the Ultrasonic Planetary Core Drill

Timoney, R., Worrall, K., Firstbrook, D., & Harkness, P. (2018) · ASCE International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments (Earth and Space) · doi:10.1061/9780784481899.032 · Cited by 1

Exploring the Water Uptake and Release of Mars-Relevant Salt and Surface Analogs Through Raman Microscopy

Primm, K. M. (2018) · CU Scholar (University of Colorado Boulder) · Cited by 1

The stability of liquid-water below the South Polar Cap of Mars

Egea-González, I., Lois, P. C., Jiménez‐Díaz, A., Sori, M. M., Bramson, A. M., & Ruíz, J. (2020) · doi:10.5194/epsc2020-841 · Cited by 1

Potential Severe Effects of a Biosphere Collision and Planetary Protection ImplicationsPreprint

Walker, R. (2019) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/kad38 · Cited by 2

Subsurface Water in Mars' Shallow Diluvium Deposits: Evidence from Tianwen-1 Radar ObservationsPreprint

Ding, C., Jiang, C., Su, Y., Li, J., Sharma, R., & Liu, Y. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4627592/v1 · Cited by 1

Terraforming Mars with Microalgae, Especially Diatoms

Rai, I., Achankunju, J., Gordon, R., & Vinayak, V. (2025) · doi:10.1002/9781394174980.ch8 · Cited by 1

Comment on Liquid Water and Life on Mars

Chandra Wickramasinghe, N. (2015) · Journal of Astrobiology & Outreach · doi:10.4172/2332-2519.1000e111

Bacillus subtilis am Limit–Sporen für die Weltraummikrobiologie

Moeller, R. (2015) · BIOspektrum · doi:10.1007/s12268-015-0614-7

Mars and Venus: Different destinies of terrestrial planets

Korablev, O. (2016) · Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1134/s1019331616040055

Planetary Simulation Chambers bring Mars to laboratory studies

Martí, E. M. (2016) · Física de la Tierra

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE HYPOTHESES FOR FORMATION OF THE PLATY-RIDGED-POLYGONIZED TERRAIN IN ELYSIUM PLANITIA, MARS

Yue, Z., Gou, S., Michael, G., Di, K., Xie, H., Gong, H., & Shao, Y. F. (2017) · The international archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences · doi:10.5194/isprs-archives-xlii-3-w1-205-2017

Feasibility of Martian Agricultural Systems

Ulmer, M., & Ocel, D. (2017) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-409548-9.10672-4

Observed diurnal variations in Mars Science Laboratory Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons passive mode data

Tate, C. G., Moersch, J. E., Jun, I., Mitrofanov, I. G., Litvak, M. L., Boynton, W. V., Drake, D. M., Fedosov, F., Golovin, D. V., Hardgrove, C. J., et al. (2018) · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment · doi:10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.100

Experimental Study of the Formation of Liquid Saline Water on Mars

Fischer, E. (2018) · Deep Blue (University of Michigan)

Energy Life Cycle in Extraterrestrial Construction Projects: Is Building Underground an Option?

Moud, H. I., Rahgozar, P., Weber, S. T., Capano, C., & Flood, I. (2021) · ASCE International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments (Earth and Space) · doi:10.1061/9780784483374.108

Tribocorrosion on MarsPreprint

Martín‐Torres, J., Zorzano, M., Nyberg, E., Ramachandran, A. V., & Bhardwaj, A. (2020) · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-36280/v1

Comment on tc-2021-220

(2021) · The Cryosphere · doi:10.5194/tc-2021-220-rc2

Planetary Protection: Too Late

Safonova, M., & Sivaram, C. (2021) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119640912.ch5

Reply on RC1

Rutishauser, A. (2021) · The Cryosphere · doi:10.5194/tc-2021-220-ac1

Reply on RC2

Rutishauser, A. (2021) · The Cryosphere · doi:10.5194/tc-2021-220-ac2

Comment on tc-2021-220

(2021) · The Cryosphere · doi:10.5194/tc-2021-220-rc1

Nuclear Power as a Possible Way to Terraforming the Mars for Starting the Colonization

Jayasinghe, N., & Gunasekara, U. (2022) · Lecture notes in electrical engineering · doi:10.1007/978-981-16-6970-5_45

Potable Water

Hossain, M. F. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-62376-0_12

Impact of Simulated Martian Conditions on (Facultatively) Anaerobic Bacterial Strains from Different Mars Analogue Sites

Beblo‐Vranesevic, K., Bohmeier, M., Schleumer, S., Rabbow, E., Perras, A., Moissl‐Eichinger, C., Schwendner, P., Cockell, C. S., Vannier, P., Marteinsson, V., et al. (2020) · Caister Academic Press eBooks · doi:10.21775/9781912530304.05

NASA’s draft EIS does NOT establish that life from Mars can get to Earth faster and better protected in a meteorite - or that ANY life on Mars can get here in this way – it does NOT overturn previous warnings of the potential for large scale effects – and these mistakes have MAJOR public interest and legal implicationsPreprint

Walker, R. (2022) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/uy4rw

NASA must protect Earth's biosphere even if Mars samples hold mirror life – motivating planetary protection with new scenarios like mirror life - survey of recent research relevant to a Mars sample return - and how to keep Earth's biosphere 100% safe with a miniature telerobotic lab above GEO, and protect other biospheres 100% with sterile robotic explorersPreprint

Walker, R. (2023) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/sybeq

柴达木盆地类火星区域的地下浅层微生物生境

陈, 妍., 刘, 立., 张, 慧., 郭, 雪., 张, 文., 张, 春., & 林, 巍. (2023) · SCIENTIA SINICA Terrae · doi:10.1360/n072023-0067

Shallow subsurface habitats across the Mars-analog Qaidam Basin

Chen, Y., Liu, L., Zhang, H., Guo, X., Zhang, W., Zhang, C., & Lin, W. (2023) · Science China Earth Sciences · doi:10.1007/s11430-023-1186-y

Community Series-Extremophiles: Microbial Genomics and Taxogenomics, Volume II

Wu, J.-H., McGenity, T. J., Rettberg, P., Simões, M. F., Li, W.-J., & Antunes, A. (2024) · Frontiers research topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-8325-4458-7

Programozási megoldásokkal a Földön kívüli víz nyomában – asztrobiológiai elemzések

Pál, B. D. (2023) · Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem · doi:10.15476/elte.2022.180

Ore Prospecting in Mars Analog: Field and Remote Sensing Mapping of the Atacama Desert, ChilePreprint

Ciążela, M., & Ciążela, J. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4886823

The Astrobiology of Archaea

Gordon, R. (2024) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119901228.ch10

An Atmosphere‐Responsive Protective Strategy Based on Deciphering the Anode Degradation Mechanism in Li–CO 2 Batteries

Song, Y., Qu, H., Wu, X., Liu, Y., Lu, B., Chen, Y., Tao, X., & Zhou, G. (2025) · Angewandte Chemie · doi:10.1002/ange.202507865

The effects of time-since-activation through saltation and dose on the toxicity of Mars-analogous abraded basalt and the bacterial transcriptomic response

Crossfield, G., & Finster, K. W. (2025) · Discover Life · doi:10.1007/s11084-025-09694-5

High-Salinity Fluid Downslope Flow on Regolith Layer Examined by Laboratory Experiment: Implications for Recurring Slope Lineae on Martian Surfaces

Tabuchi, Y., Kioka, A., Tsuji, T., & Yamada, Y. (2025) · Fluids · doi:10.3390/fluids10070183

Fragmented deoxyribonucleic acid could be extractable from Mars’s surface rocks

Zorzano, M., Raghavendra, J. B., Carrizo, D., Blasco, F. C., Reyes‐Prieto, M., D’Auria, G., & Martín‐Torres, J. (2025) · Communications Earth & Environment · doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02809-w

Astrobiology in Peru: Early Achievements

Valdivia‐Silva, J. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-01450-4_10

Analysis of the Key Elements of Martian Habitable Environment and Its Implication for Tianwen-3 Site Selection

Wan, L., Tang, H., Xiongyao, L. I., & Liu, J. (2025) · Chinese Journal of Space Science · doi:10.11728/cjss2025.05.2024-0131

Biosignature Detection and Preservation in Lake Salda Microbialites Under Simulated Martian Conditions

Ballard, C. J., Preston, L. J., Dartnell, L. R., Mateo‐Martí, E., Regan, C. E., & Coates, A. J. (2026) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1177/15311074261417883

Reactive gossans as iron-rich Mars analogue environments of astrobiological interest, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut

Lemelin, M., Williamson, M.-C., Léveillé, R., Belleau-Magnat, G., Brassard, É., Aoid, H., Fauconnier, B.-V., Douglas, P., Lachance, S., Marion, C. L., et al. (2026) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2026.106258

Sintering of wet-processed simulated Mars regolith slurries shaped using conventional and laser-induced slip casting (LIS)

Casu, M., Bahr, J., Kleba-Ehrhardt, R., Mühler, T., Schwentenwein, M., Feyerherm, R., Orrù, R., Cao, G., Gurlo, A., & Karl, D. (2026) · Ceramics International · doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.03.213

The nightside ionosphere of Mars unveiled by suprathermal electron depletions

Steckiewicz, M. (2017) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/57936b9fz5337z4659z993cz51472eff38a5

Contraintes sur la structure interne de Mars et mesures de la marée de Phobos pour la mission INSIGHT

Pou, S. L. (2019) · doi:10.70675/7db650c9ze1c8z4650z8c55z785dd5bc5590

Influence of ice degradation on planetary landscapes

Philippe, M. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/b5a45ad4z9b5az4c50zbd27z794dd6ea97de

Defined Mars Media (DMM), a chemically defined simulant of the soluble macro- and micro- nutrients in Mars regolith for use in biological researchPreprint

Greene, H., Nattermann, U., Stork, D. A., Martin, F. R., Schubert, M. G., Pedersen, T., Sukarto, E., Spens, A., Mancuso, J. E., Isaev, K., et al. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.04.24.719001 · Cited by 2

Formation of Melanterite From Marcasite: Insights Into Martian Transient Wet Conditions

Sreejayan, A., Giri, G., Hiral, P. B., Mahin, S., Varghese, L. M., Indu, G. K., Prakash, K. J., Sajinkumar, K. S., Ruj, T., Rajesh, V. J., et al. (2026) · Journal of Geophysical Research Planets · doi:10.1029/2025je009544

Planetary Aerobiomes in Dust- and Aerosol-Dominated Extraterrestrial Environments

Tonietti, L., Esposito, M., di donato, P., & Rotundi, A. (2026) · Applied Microbiology · doi:10.3390/applmicrobiol6060066

FTIR constraints on Martian mantle water from clinopyroxene in nakhlite and shergottite meteorites

Radu, I.-B., Deligny, C., Skogby, H., Stalder, R., Bellucci, J. J., & Whitehouse, M. J. (2026) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2026.06.002

Water Retention in Martian Clays Under Modern Martian Environments

Zhang, Z., Meng, J., Wang, L., Wang, D., Li, C., Hellevang, H., & Zhang, G. (2026) · Journal of Earth Science · doi:10.1007/s12583-026-0512-6

A Collaborative Mission Planning Method for Mars Sampling

Gao, J., Ji, J., Wang, H. N., Zhang, H., Tan, Z., Zou, X., Tian, J., & Song, J. (2025) · IEEE International Conference on Control Science and Systems Engineering (ICCSSE) · doi:10.1109/iccsse67426.2025.11552535

Methane Production on Mars-Relevant Clay Minerals and Simulant Regolith

Mickol, R. L., Waddell, W. H., Wray, J., Pohlkamp, R., Kern, C., & Kral, T. A. (2026) · Microorganisms · doi:10.3390/microorganisms14071496

Bridging Earth and Mars: the role of microbes in space exploration and habitability

Bahadur, A., Zada, S., Banerjee, A., & Sajjad, W. (2026) · Physics and Chemistry of the Earth Parts A/B/C · doi:10.1016/j.pce.2026.104686

Current water trapping micro-habitats on the surface of Mars

Bognar, A., Pál, B. D., & Keresztúri, Á. (2026) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117273

Slope stability analysis of a west-facing landslide in the Iani Chaos Region (Mars)

Ermini, A., Conway, S. J., Guallini, L., & Salvini, R. (2026) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2026.106346

Experimental investigation of phyllosilicate and hydrated Sulfate infrared spectra as affected by Martian surface temperature

Haoan, Y. I. N., Tang, H., Li, X., Yu, W., Zhou, C., Zhang, T., & Shi, E. (2026) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117367

Constraining the Potential Liquid Water Environment at Gale Crater, Mars

Valentín, E. G. R., Gough, R. V., Chevrier, V. F., Primm, K. M., Martínez, G., & Tolbert, M. A. (2018) · Journal of Geophysical Research Planets · doi:10.1002/2018je005558 · Cited by 58

Liquid Water at Crater Gale, Mars

Zorzano, B. J. (2015) · Journal of Astrobiology & Outreach · doi:10.4172/2332-2519.1000131 · Cited by 4

Experimental evidence for the formation of liquid saline water on Mars

Fischer, E., Martínez, G., Elliott, H., & Renno, N. O. (2014) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1002/2014gl060302 · Cited by 89

Assessing Habitability in RSL and Other Potential Perchlorate-Driven Habits on Mars

Shumway, J., & Hendricks, K. (2018) · Digital Commons - USU (Utah State University)

Martian soil could hold liquid water

Aron, J. (2015) · The New Scientist · doi:10.1016/s0262-4079(15)30151-2