Red Planet, Blue Past: How Rain Shaped the Martian Landscape

Join planetary scientist Beth Johnson and Dr. Amanda Steckel in this 33-minute SETI Institute talk exploring groundbreaking research that challenges our understanding of ancient Mars. Discover how computer simulations revealed that billions of years ago, Mars experienced significant precipitation—either rain or snow—that carved extensive valley networks across its surface. Learn how this evidence supports theories of a warmer, wetter climate during the Noachian epoch (4.1-3.7 billion years ago), contradicting previous assumptions of a predominantly cold, dry planet. Explore the implications of these findings for the search for past life on Mars and understand how precipitation played a crucial role in shaping the Martian landscape. The presentation includes references to the published paper and additional resources for those interested in further exploration of this fascinating topic about Mars' ancient hydrological history.