Most of Mars' atmosphere has been lost

Martian Atmosphere Mars has a thin atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide. Evidence on the planet's surface indicates that Mars was once warmer and wetter, suggesting a thicker atmosphere in the past. Jakosky et al. measured the abundances of argon isotopes at different heights in the atmosphere. Because lighter isotopes are more easily ejected than heavier ones, about 66% of Mars' atmosphere has been lost into space since it formed. Understanding the history of Mars' atmosphere will help explain how and why its climate changed, informing the study of similar processes on Earth. Science , this issue p. [1408][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aai7721