Scientists Intrigued by “Negative Mass Anomaly” Under Surface of Mars

NASA InSight and Viking data show Mars is spinning slightly faster each year, shortening the Martian day by fractions of a millisecond.

Researchers at Delft University published a study proposing a negative mass anomaly—a buoyant mantle plume—beneath the Tharsis region.

Their simulations indicate upward movement of light mantle material could create melt pockets, form volcanoes, and shift mass to speed up Mars.

The team recommends a dedicated gravity mission to Mars to test the hypothesis and gather in-situ data.