--- title: Mars Water Discovery: Each Way the Planet Would Try to Kill Us description: 7 reasons the Red Planet is inhospitable to humans canonical: https://time.com/4054927/martian-mars-water-movie-nasa-discovery/ author: Jeffrey Kluger article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-29T20:59:38.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:43:07.950Z article:section: Science og:title: This Graphic Shows All the Ways Mars Will Try to Kill Us If We Ever Get There og:description: 7 reasons the Red Planet is inhospitable to humans og:url: https://time.com/4054927/martian-mars-water-movie-nasa-discovery/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This Graphic Shows All the Ways Mars Will Try to Kill Us If We Ever Get There twitter:description: 7 reasons the Red Planet is inhospitable to humans twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # This Graphic Shows All the Ways Mars Will Try to Kill Us If We Ever Get There > Sponsored content. 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It reaches 40,000 subscribers with a 34.2% open rate and a 2.1% click rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I follow the energy transition as a business story? Future Proof covers climate and energy as an economic and business story rather than only an environmental one. It publishes every Friday and is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who writes Future Proof? Justin Worland, a senior correspondent at TIME and an award-winning climate journalist, writes Future Proof. #### Is Future Proof free? Yes. Future Proof is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: Know Right Now: Liquid Water Found on Mars [Watch (HLS stream): Know Right Now: Liquid Water Found on Mars](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/de4CvA5e.m3u8) (1:01)  _Published 2015-09-28. NASA announced that scientists have found evidence of liquid water on present-day Mars_ by [Jeffrey Kluger](https://time.com/author/jeffrey-kluger/) and [Heather Jones](https://time.com/author/heather-jones/) Sep 29, 2015 8:59 PM UTC by [Jeffrey Kluger](https://time.com/author/jeffrey-kluger/) and [Heather Jones](https://time.com/author/heather-jones/) Sep 29, 2015 8:59 PM UTC Mars is the solar system’s _it_ planet, what with[ breakthrough reports of Martian water](http://time.com/4052358/mars-water-life/) and a [blockbuster movie about a Red Planet castaway](http://time.com/4047859/the-martian-celebrates-the-gutsy-ambition-that-weve-denied-the-real-nasa/) soon to hit theaters. But Mars is hard—really, really hard. And while sending humans there is not just a grand dream but an achievable one, we shouldn’t kid ourselves about just how deadly a place it could be. Here are a few of the things that make living on—and merely getting to—Mars so risky.  ### See Mysterious Photos of Water on the Surface of Mars  Recurring slope lineae (RSL) are a type of dark streak seen on Martian slopes and are thought to form from flow of liquid water. This image shows RSL in the Aram Chaos, acquired on Jan. 11, 2015. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  This image shows the central peak in Porter Crater, acquired on April 17, 2015. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  RSL may be due to active seeps of water. These dark flows are abundant along the steep slopes of ancient bedrock in Coprates Chasma. Acquired on Dec. 31, 2013. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  Ravines (or very large gullies) are actively forming on Mars during the coldest times of year, when carbon dioxide frost aids mass wasting. In this image, acquired on March 25, 2015, we see warm-season flows in cold-season ravines. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  An image of the southeast rim of Hale crater, acquired on Nov. 13, 2014 NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  This RSL is one of the most active sites known on Mars in the central peaks of Hale Crater, acquired on Feb. 20, 2015. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  A RSL in Raga Crate, acquired on Feb. 9, 2015. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  A surprise landslump in Melas Chasma, acquired on Jan. 15, 2014. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  An image of the southeast rim of Hale crater, acquired on Nov. 13, 2014. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  This image was acquired in southern winter over part of Asimov Crater, on March 15, 2014, showing the equator-facing slope of a deep trough inside the crater. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  RSL along Coprates Chasma Ridge, acquired on July 7, 2013. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  Seasonal flows on Palikir Crater, a warm Martian slopes, that may be caused by the flow of salty water on Mars. Acquired on March 15, 2013 NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  RSL in Juventae Chasma, acquired on Jan. 18, 2013. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  This image displays a site along a Coprates Chasma ridge shows RSL on generally north-facing slopes, acquired on Oct. 20, 2012. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  Right past the sharp, but warped rim of this ancient impact crater are deposits of winter frost, which show up as blue in enhanced color. Acquired on July 16, 2012. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  Slope features seen on a wall in Newton crater acquired on May 30, 2011. 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