Mars

Why does Nasa want to bring Martian soil samples back to Earth? Will cookie warnings soon be a thing of the past? And are dachshunds getting too cute …

And other stories from the stranger side of life

And other stories from the stranger side of life

A new wave of missions aim to unlock the secrets of Mars

It has long been associated with war and slaughter

Six-wheeled rover will collect samples and could pave way for humans on the planet

The Perseverance rover is looking for evidence of life on the red planet

First recorded seismological tremor on another planet offers clues about how planetary bodies form

Space agency is expected to send the vehicle to the red planet next July

Dormant viruses have been awoken in more than half of the astronauts who have embarked on space missions

Opportunity rover has not been heard from in eight months following massive dust storm

New discovery sheds light on beginnings of our planet - and could help in search for aliens

New probe set to study the deep interior of the Red Planet

Researchers say it is the first evidence of a persistent body of water on the red planet

‘Unprecedented’ dust storm has engulfed the red planet for past two weeks

Space agency’s new boss says the two missions are far from incompatible

The spacecraft will lift off tomorrow on a six-month journey to the red planet

Compact system designed to sustain long-term human colonisation

Fans call decision to slash the number of cakes in a packet from 12 to 10 as ‘sacrilege’

World War II prime minister predicted space travel and was open to the idea that extra-terrestrials existed

European Space Agency waits for news from space probe after losing contact minutes before it was due to land

US President to meet scientists, engineers and students this week to 'dream up ways to find the next frontiers'

Scientists say they can make 'wonder material' that could create livable conditions in space

Satellite's search for methane gas will show whether life existed on the red planet

US space agency to send astronauts 'in near future' after evidence of flowing water found on red planet

A rumour is doing the rounds that there will be a 'spectacular double moon' in the sky in late August but astronomers say it's all nonsense

'We were absolutely startled,' admit scientists as Opportunity Rover captures image of new rock