Mars May Still Be Volcanically Active, New Evidence Suggests

WHO:

Mashable - The European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter detected gas near Alba Mons on Mars.

Space.com - Scientists have long suspected that Mars is geologically “dead.”

WHAT:

Mashable - Gas detected near Alba Mons may indicate that Martian volcanoes are still active.

Space.com - New spacecraft observations suggest Mars’s volcanoes may be “sleeping,” rather than inactive.

WHERE:

Mashable - The gas was detected near Alba Mons on Mars.

Space.com - The observations concern Mars, also called the Red Planet.

WHY:

Mashable - The gas detection hints at ongoing volcanic activity and potential new places to search for life.

HOW:

Mashable - The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter detected gas near Alba Mons.

Space.com - Spacecraft observations provided evidence suggesting that Mars’s volcanoes may not be fully inactive.

(UPDATED November 4, 2026 20:12 UTC)

A European spacecraft detected gas near Alba Mons, challenging beliefs that Mars is geologically dead. The finding suggests Martian volcanoes may be sleeping, rather than completely inactive. Possible ongoing volcanic activity could point scientists toward new places to search for life.