Scientists discover massive 'thermal anomaly' beneath the surface of Mars

Key Points:

• New research reveals that Mars's southern hemisphere mantle is up to 750°F (400°C) warmer than the northern mantle, indicating a significant internal temperature asymmetry beneath the planet's already distinct surface dichotomy.
• Using a technique called tidal tomography on data from three NASA spacecraft, scientists inferred that the hotter southern mantle could still be partially molten, which may have implications for Mars's volcanic activity and past habitability.
• The temperature difference helps explain seismic wave behavior observed by NASA's InSight lander and magnetic anomalies in the southern crust, potentially linked to Mars's ancient global magnetic field.
• The origin of Mars's north-south dichotomy remains uncertain, with hypotheses including a massive ancient impact creating the northern lowlands or the southern crust acting as a thermal lid, affecting internal heat flow.
• The tidal tomography method used in this study could be applied to explore the interior structures of other planetary bodies, aiding future missions and scientific exploration.