Recent seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander could provide answers to a 50-year-old puzzle concerning Mars’ unique structure. The planet is divided into the northern lowlands and southern highlands, separated by significant differences in elevation and crust thickness. This phenomenon, referred to as the “Martian dichotomy,” has perplexed scientists for decades. Clues from seismic activity suggest ancient processes within the planet’s interior may have caused this division, as opposed to external impacts like asteroid collisions. Insights from Seismic Data According to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, seismic waves recorded by InSight were analysed to uncover differences between the planet’s hemispheres. Situated near the boundary of the dichotomy, the lander captured how seismic waves traveled through the mantle beneath both the northern and southern regions. Researchers observed that seismic energy dissipated more rapidly in the southern highlands, suggesting the mantle beneath is hotter than in the north. The study points to ancient tectonic activity on Mars as a possible cause. Scientists believe that movements of tectonic plates in the planet’s early history, along with …