A new study suggests the iron oxide responsible for the red planet's distinctive hue is ferrihydrite, pointing to the bygone presence of water, an important ingredient for life

Mars is widely known for its iconic rusty red color — many people even refer to it as just the "Red Planet" — but new research suggests the Martian shade isn't just lovely to look at. The chemistry behind Mars' rosy hue may actually hold important information about our cosmic neighbor.

By combining observations from space and experiments on Earth, scientists rethink the red planet's history and why it's red.