Seismic waves inside Mars' core hint at how it became hostile to life

An artist’s depiction of the Martian interior and the paths taken by the seismic waves as they traveled through the planet’s core. Image courtesy of NASA/JPL and Nicholas Schmerr.

Seismic waves have been observed traveling through the core of Mars for the first time, revealing details of the composition of the Red Planet's heart. 

The results may suggest why Earth can support life but its neighbor, Mars, cannot. The seismic data was collected by an international team of researchers using NASA's InSight Mars lander and it reveals the Martian core to be composed of a completely liquid iron-alloy core with high percentages of sulfur and oxygen.