DAILY GALAXY - Mars, long admired for its rusty hue and alien deserts, may play a far greater role in shaping life on Earth than once believed. A new study published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific reveals that Mars’ gravitational influence subtly but significantly affects Earth’s climate cycles, planetary tilt, and even the evolution of life.
A Subtle Force With Massive Impact
In a discovery that surprised even the researchers, the team found that Mars may be “punching above its weight,” influencing Earth’s long-term climate stability far more than its modest size suggests.
“I knew Mars had some effect on Earth, but I assumed it was tiny,” said Stephen Kane of the University of California, Riverside, in a statement. “I’d thought its gravitational influence would be too small to easily observe within Earth’s geologic history. I kind of set out to check my own assumptions.”