Maven Reveals Sputtering Stripped Mars' Atmosphere

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft has provided new evidence that sputtering is responsible for stripping away the Martian atmosphere. The study, published in Science Advances, uses nearly a decade of MAVEN data to directly capture this process. Scientists have long believed sputtering played a major role in Mars' climate shift, but this is the first time it's been seen in action. Sputtering occurs when heavy solar ions smash into Mars' upper atmosphere, knocking lighter atoms free and flinging them into space. Analyzing data from MAVEN's instruments, the team mapped argon gas in Mars' upper layers, finding highest levels where solar wind was most active. The escape rate of argon was four times greater than scientists once thought, with solar storms amplifying the effect. Researchers believe sputtering could have been the main reason Mars dried out. The results establish sputtering's role in the loss of Mars' atmosphere and in determining the history of water on Mars. Further research combining this data with climate models and rock samples is needed to fully understand the process.