The story of how Mars formed is about to get a lot more interesting. New research published in Nature Astronomy reveals evidence for a previously unknown, epoch-defining event that shaped the formation of the red planet. Scientists have identified a rapid, short-lived period of intense bombardment of the Martian surface that began about 4.48 billion years ago. This event, which was likely caused by the migration of a large planet in the early solar system, left a unique chemical signature on the surface of Mars. This new evidence could help explain some of the planet’s most enigmatic features, such as its lack of a large moon and its thicker-than-expected crust.

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source: Phys.org