A Rusty Planet
Mars appears red because its rocks and dust contain iron oxide (rust), which gives the surface its reddish brown hue.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Hemoglobin is an example of a globular protein. Learn how hemoglobin proteins in the blood transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Discussion of four attempts to explain the structure of the solar system, from Aristotle to Johannes Kepler.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Iron ore is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, and one of its primary uses is in the production of steel. When combined with carbon, iron changes character completely and becomes the alloy steel.
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University College Cork, Ireland (A Britannica Publishing Partner)Hear a scientist discuss the potential for interdisciplinary research in microbiology, biochemistry, and chemistry.
Transcript
NARRATOR: The ancient Romans named Mars after their god of war. Experts think they associated the planet with war because its unusual red color resembles the color of blood. Today we know that the rocks and soil on Mars are reddish brown because they contain a great deal of iron oxide, or rust. How this rust was created, however, remains one of the mysteries of the universe.