International

The five most shocking discoveries on Mars

October 15 |

On July 31, 2008, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States (U.S.) announced that laboratory tests carried out by the Phoenix mission on Mars proved the existence of water on the so-called red planet.

The U.S. agency dedicated to explore space reported that the robotic arm of the Phoenix deposited a sample taken in an instrument in which water vapors are identified.

“We have water” on Mars, said William Boynton, scientist of the thermal analyzer of the University of Arizona, on that memorable date.

We invite you to know in this article which have been the most shocking discoveries made on Mars.

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Lake of liquid water

In 2018 the Marsis radar, installed aboard the Mars Express Orbiter exploration mission coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA), discovered a lake of liquid salt water which is presumed to be at least one meter deep, reported then the group of Italian scientists who were at the forefront of the discovery.

This important finding is the first sign of liquid water on the fourth planet of the solar system. In the past, Mars had water, however, the cooling of the planet and its weak atmosphere caused it to disappear or turn into ice.

The spiders of Mars

The automatic interplanetary multi-platform station Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter discovered last May 13, 2018 some “giant spiders” on the surface of the red planet.

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The “arachnids” correspond to a carbon dioxide ice cap which, once the sunlight hits it, reproduces the false image of the aforementioned animal.

The blue sunsets of the red planet

NASA’s robot explorer Curiosity photographed for the first time the blue sunsets of the red planet. The left camera of the mechanic sent from Earth actually recorded a video of which we know its most beautiful frames.

The image, more than for its beauty, was used by scientists to study the composition and fall of the night dust on Mars, something fundamental to understand the origin of the planet.

Not only sunsets, also blue dunes

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The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) discovered large blue dunes with green hues on January 24, 2018.

The coloration is due to methane gas accumulations along with organic molecules in rocks more than 3 billion years old. Most strikingly, the latter could suggest the presence of ancient life forms.

Life on Mars?

The long-awaited life on Mars, whether it is extinct or actually exists, has not been fully proven. So those who want to dream of a destroyed civilization that migrated to Earth must wait a little longer.

However, the Viking probes sent by NASA more than 40 years ago, especially the robotic Labeled Release, or LR, team, provided evidence that could hint at the possibility of ancient life forms, something that is still being investigated by scientists.

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So why is Mars red?

Although the fourth planet in the solar system has blue sunsets and blue dunes, from Earth we observe it as red because of the high concentrations of iron oxide on its surface.

So, every time we have the possibility to see the fourth planet of the solar system from our homes, we will still see it red, and we will never be able to enjoy the blue sunsets and dunes. Unless we are ever able to visit Mars.

International

Spain’s irregular migrant population rises to 840,000, study finds

The number of migrants living in Spain without legal residency status continues to rise and has reached 840,000 people, with 91% originating from the Americas, particularly Colombia, Peru and Honduras, according to a report by the Spanish think tank Funcas (Foundation of the Savings Banks).

An estimated 17.2% of the non-EU foreign population living in Spain is in an irregular administrative situation. The estimate is based on the gap between the number of foreign residents effectively living in Spain, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), and those who hold a residence permit, benefit from international protection, or are in the process of obtaining it.

The data, as of January 1, 2025, point to a notable and sustained increase in irregular migration since 2017, when the estimated figure stood at around 107,000 people, representing 4.2% of the non-EU population residing in Spain.

By origin, migrants from the American continent stand out, totaling around 760,000 people, or 91% of all irregular migrants. Colombians account for nearly 290,000, followed by Peruvians with almost 110,000, and Hondurans with about 90,000. Migrants from Africa (50,000), Asia (15,000) and Europe (14,000) trail far behind.

The figures predate Spain’s latest immigration regulation reform, which came into force in May 2025 and introduces measures to ease access to legal status through residency ties. According to Funcas, the reform would, in principle, tend to reduce the number of migrants in an irregular situation.

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International

Historic snowstorm paralyzes Toronto after 60 centimeters of snow

Toronto, Canada’s largest city and the fourth most populous in North America, was largely paralyzed on Monday after a historic snowstorm dumped up to 60 centimeters of snow and sent temperatures plunging to -15 degrees Celsius, authorities said.

Late Sunday, as the scale of the snowfall became clear, city officials declared a climate emergency, triggering extraordinary measures including parking bans on several major streets to facilitate snow removal operations.

Toronto’s public transit authority reported that while some buses remain immobilized, subway and streetcar services are operating with relative normality, though localized disruptions may occur.

A similar situation is affecting the city’s commuter rail network, which remains operational but is experiencing significant delays on its main routes due to the severe weather conditions.

International

Venezuela frees at least 80 political prisoners, NGO says

At least 80 political prisoners were released on Sunday across Venezuela, human rights group Foro Penal reported, as the broader process of detainee releases continues at a slow pace under the interim government.

Foro Penal’s director, Alfredo Romero, wrote on social media platform X that verified releases took place nationwide and that the figure could rise as more confirmations are completed.

Attorney Gonzalo Himiob, also from Foro Penal, said the excarcelations occurred during the early hours of the day and emphasized that the number is not yet final pending further verification.

The releases are part of a series of steps announced by Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, who took power after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3, 2026. Rodríguez has pledged a significant number of liberations but has been criticized by opposition groups and rights organizations for the slow and nontransparent nature of the process.

So far, the Venezuelan government reports that 626 detainees have been freed since December, though independent counts by human rights groups suggest the number of actual political prisoner releases is lower and that many remain behind bars.

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Families of those still detained have maintained vigils outside prisons, hopeful for further releases even as broader concerns about political imprisonment and due process persist.