Explore the history of Mars as a habitable world and its implications for terrestrial planet evolution in this Institute for Advanced Study / Princeton University Joint Astrophysics Colloquium talk. Delve into the diverse aqueous environments preserved in Mars' rock record, ranging from lakes and valley networks to groundwaters and hydrothermal systems. Examine the factors that sustained liquid water on Mars, the variability of its environments, and the drivers of long-term environmental change. Gain insights into the processes governing planetary habitability and their relevance to exoplanets beyond our solar system. Investigate the geochemical environments with liquid water on Mars and the impact of aqueous alteration on its atmosphere. Learn about key locations for current and future missions to search for past Martian life and uncover unresolved questions about the planet's evolution. Discover how Mars serves as a crucial linchpin in understanding terrestrial planet evolution and habitability. Read more