A study suggests Mars takes its red hue from a type of mineral that forms in cool water, which could reveal insights about whether Mars was ever able to support life.

Thanks to new research techniques published today, scientists say that "our understanding of why Mars is red has been transformed."

Scientists suggest that the main reason for Mars’ red colour could be the water-rich iron mineral ferrihydrite. The discovery is crucial since it may offer an intriguing hint to the planet’s wetter an