Mars Shakes More Than Expected

(University of Bern, February 04, 2025)

Researchers from the University of Bern, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Imperial College London, Brown University, and ETH Zurich, led by Dr. Valentin Bickel and Dr. Constantinos Charalambous, found that Mars experiences more intense and deeper seismic shaking from meteoroid impacts than previously thought. Using a machine learning method to analyze thousands of satellite images for new craters formed during the InSight mission's seismic monitoring period, and comparing these with seismic data, the team discovered 123 new impacts and linked 49 seismic events to them. This work challenges previous beliefs about how seismic waves travel through Mars and increases the estimated impact rate by 1.6 to 2.5 times. This breakthrough revises our understanding of Mars' internal structure and seismic activity, suggesting we need to update models of the Martian interior. It highlights the value of combining seismic data with orbital imagery to fully understand the planet's geophysical properties. The efforts of Dr. Bickel, Dr. Charalambous, and their colleagues offer critical insights for future Mars missions and infrastructure planning, providing a more accurate picture of the risks from meteoroid impacts.