Why Mars’ Molten Core May Hold the Key to the Planet’s Ancient Magnetic Field Mystery – The Daily Galaxy
2025-04-24T18:00:00Z
Mars’ ancient magnetic field has puzzled scientists for years, but new research suggests a molten core could be the key to this mystery. Could temperature differences across the planet’s hemispheres have caused a lopsided magnetic shield?
New research published by the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics offers a compelling explanation for the strange nature of Mars’ ancient magnetic field. The study suggests that the Red Planet’s core may have once been fully molten, creating a magnetic field that was strangely confined to only the southern hemisphere.
The Mysterious Magnetic Field of the Past
For many years, scientists have known that Mars lacks a magnetic field today, which likely contributed to the stripping away of its atmosphere by the solar wind.
However, evidence collected from the Insight lander indicates that Mars once had a protective magnetic shield, an attribute crucial to maintaining a stable atmosphere and liquid water.
What puzzled researchers was the discovery of a magnetic field that seemed to cover only Mars’ southern hemisphere, leaving the northern hemisphere devoid of any detectable magnetic activity. The origins of this asymmetry have long been a mystery—until now.
A New Theory: The Molten Core of Mars
In the study led by Chi Yan and colleagues, researchers propose a bold new theory: Mars’ core was entirely molten billions of years ago, which would have created the necessary conditions for a magnetic field.
This idea differs from the commonly accepted model of Mars having a solid inner core surrounded by a molten outer core, similar to Earth.
The molten core hypothesis recommends that Mars’ magnetic field was not generated by a simple dynamo effect, as on Earth, but rather by a unique process influenced by the planet’s internal dynamics.
Credit: Ankit Barik/Johns Hopkins University
How Thermal Differences May Have Created the Lopsided Field
One of the most intriguing aspects of this new theory is the proposed influence of temperature gradients on the Red Planet. The researchers speculate that a significant difference in the thermal conductivity of Mars’ northern and southern hemispheres could explain the uneven magnetic field.
According to their simulations, the southern hemisphere may have had a higher thermal conductivity, allowing heat to escape more readily. This could have caused a more active dynamo in the southern hemisphere, leading to a stronger magnetic field there.
Essentially, Red planet’s core would have been churning predominantly beneath the southern part of the planet.
What Supercomputers Discovered About Its Magnetic Past
To test their theory, the team used supercomputers at the Maryland Advanced Research Computing Center to simulate the early conditions of the fourth planet.
By adjusting the fluid dynamics of the molten core and varying the conductivity of the planet’s crust, the team found that the results most closely matching the data from Insight and Mars Global Surveyor occurred when the planet’s core was fully molten. There was a stark contrast in heat conductivity between its hemispheres.
Implications for Mars’ Habitability
The implications of this research are significant for the study of Mars’ habitability.
If Mars once had a magnetic field, it would have been able to shield the planet from the solar wind, preserving its atmosphere and possibly maintaining surface water—factors that are key to supporting life.
This new model could redefine our understanding of our neighboring planet as a once habitable world and open new avenues for searching for signs of past life.
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