Habitability is a widely used word in the geoscience, planetary science, and astrobiology
literature, but what does it mean? In this review on habitability, we define it as the ability of …

Until recently, Mars was considered a basalt-covered world, but this vision is evolving thanks
to new orbital, in situ and meteorite observations, in particular of rocks of the ancient …

The composition and physical properties of martian regolith are dramatically better
understood compared to just a decade ago, particularly through the use of X-ray diffraction …

Carbonates are key minerals for understanding ancient Martian environments because they
are indicators of potentially habitable, neutral‐to‐alkaline water and may be an important …

The thermodynamic availability of water (water activity) strictly limits microbial propagation
on Earth, particularly in hypersaline environments. A considerable body of evidence …

Life can persist under severe osmotic stress and low water activity in hypersaline
environments. On Mars, evidence for the past presence of saline bodies of water is prevalent …

Spherical Fe-oxide concretions on Earth, especially in Utah, USA, have been investigated
as an analog of hematite spherules found in Meridiani Planum on Mars to support …

Sulfur plays a major role in martian geochemistry and sulfate minerals are important
repositories of water. However, their hydration states on Mars are poorly constrained …

The Perseverance rover has collected seven oriented samples of sedimentary rocks, all
likely older than the oldest signs of widespread life on Earth, at the exposed base of the …

Transport of fine-grained dust is one of the most widespread sedimentary processes
occurring on Mars today. In the present climate, eolian abrasion and deflation of rocks are …