Martian

Inside the planet's polar vortex, temperatures drop dramatically -- much colder than the air outside -- and the continuous darkness of the long Martian winter allows ozone levels in the atmosphere to rise sharply.

During the Martian winter, when temperatures plunge to around minus 120 degrees Celsius, ice accumulates on the dunes.

These winds stir up dust into swirling columns called dust devils—rotating plumes of air and fine particles that sweep across the Martian surface.

The lunar and Martian samples were compared against a control group grown in Devonian soil, an ancient, clay-rich type from Devon, England.

Scientists believe these features contain minerals produced by chemical reactions that could be associated with ancient Martian microbes.