Buzz
Mars has captivated human imagination since ancient times. Today, we are closer than ever to landing on its surface. Yet, conspiracy theorists and unconventional thinkers claim we’ve already visited the red planet. These intriguing, albeit far-fetched, narratives persist and will likely continue until humanity finally steps foot on Mars. Until then, here are 10 extraordinary theories about our neighboring planet.
10. Could Phobos Actually Be a Space Station?
When the European Space Agency announced that Phobos, one of Mars’s moons, seemed to be hollow, it echoed the conclusions of Russian astrophysicist Dr. Iosif Shklovsky from the 1960s. Shklovsky not only argued that Phobos was hollow but also suggested, based on its irregular orbit, that it might be an artificial construct.
Over time, Shklovsky’s findings have been embraced by ufologists, alien enthusiasts, and ancient astronaut theorists. A prominent theory among these groups is that Phobos was intentionally placed in orbit and serves as an ancient space station, potentially used as a launchpad for space missions or as an early warning system for threats like asteroids.
Mainstream scientists, however, propose that the perceived hollowness could be due to water or other liquids trapped inside the moon. Another explanation is that Phobos, formed from multiple asteroid fragments, naturally contains voids within its structure. Rather than resembling a Death Star, Phobos is more like a loosely bound collection of rocks.
Several attempts have been made to send probes to Phobos, but curiously, all have experienced technical failures, leading to incomplete missions. To some, this pattern is no accident and implies that Phobos is not only an artificial structure but also remains operational.
9. The Sphinx and Pyramids of Mars
A sphinx is said to exist on Mars, positioned directly in front of what some claim to be pyramids.
While mainstream scientists argue that the pyramids are merely natural mountain formations, others insist their precise measurements and shapes suggest they are man-made structures. The likelihood of them being volcanoes is slim, as Mars’ only known volcanic region, Tharsis, lies 3,200 kilometers (2,000 mi) away from the Cydonia site where these pyramids are located.
If the sphinx and pyramids on Mars are real, could they be linked to Egypt’s Sphinx and the Giza pyramids? Some theorists strongly believe so. They point out that Cairo’s Arabic name, al-Qahirah, translates to “The Victorious” or, intriguingly, “The Place of Mars.” Additionally, it’s claimed the Giza Sphinx was once painted red. As further “evidence,” they highlight the presence of scattered rocks near the alleged pyramids. Are these just natural formations, or remnants of a long-lost Martian civilization?
Aerial images of Cydonia have led some to identify a third pyramid, with the trio allegedly mirroring the layout of the Giza pyramids. NASA, however, attributes these sightings to pareidolia, where blurred images cause people to perceive random patterns as recognizable shapes.
8. Project Redsun—The Secret Manned Mission to Mars
A story that surfaced in 2011 claims a covert mission in the 1970s aimed to establish a base on Mars.
After Apollo 17, the final manned moon mission, NASA reportedly initiated classified space operations. Among these was Project Redsun, a purported collaboration between the US and the Soviet Union to begin colonizing Mars. The first team allegedly reached Mars in late 1971 on a reconnaissance mission. A second mission, launched in August 1973 aboard the ISV Columbus, supposedly included US astronauts Commander Elliot See and pilot William Rutledge, along with Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Ilyushin.
A video, said to be leaked and appearing on YouTube, allegedly shows 16-millimeter footage of Project Redsun from a NASA training session. Its authenticity is hotly debated, with most dismissing it as an elaborate hoax.
Italian UFO researcher Luca Scantamburlo reported on the story, citing Rutledge, the pilot of the 1973 Redsun mission, as his source. Rutledge also mentioned other classified projects, including the discovery of an alien base on the moon. Regarding the leaked information, Rutledge stated:
I’m the whistle-blower. What can NASA or the USAF do now? Blocking or suing me would be an acknowledgement. They can speak of hoax or fiction.
7. NASA Employee Claims to Have Seen Men Walking on Mars in 1979
In 2014, a woman named Jackie called into the radio show Coast To Coast AM, asserting that she had seen men walking on Mars in 1979. She claimed to have witnessed this event firsthand.
Jackie explained that her role at NASA involved downloading telemetry data as part of the “downstairs team.” While performing her duties, she allegedly observed men in space suits walking on Mars through a live NASA feed. She noted that their suits were not the bulky type typically expected. According to her, the individuals approached the Viking Explorer after emerging over the horizon.
Jackie further stated that six other NASA employees also witnessed the event. When they attempted to confront the mission leaders upstairs, they found the door locked and the windows covered with paper, preventing them from seeing inside.
To date, none of the other six alleged employees have stepped forward to support Jackie’s account.
6. Gilbert Levin’s Alleged Suppressed Evidence of Life on Mars
Gilbert Levin asserts that he discovered evidence of life on Mars in 1976 and has spent decades trying to validate his findings.
The Viking rover’s “Labeled Release” experiment, conducted upon landing on Mars, reportedly detected organic life in soil samples using NASA-approved methods. However, Levin’s results were dismissed because two concurrent experiments failed to yield similar findings, leading to the Labeled Release data being largely ignored.
While not explicitly supporting Levin, Chris McKay from NASA’s Ames Research Center suggested that the two other tests conducted by NASA might be unreliable. He pointed out that identical equipment used in Chile’s Atacama Desert failed to detect organic molecules, despite the soil there being known to contain organic life.
5. Panspermia—Life on Earth May Have Originated from Mars
In 2013, two prominent scientists appeared to support the panspermia theory, which suggests life on Earth originated from Mars via molecular forms carried by an asteroid. Steve Benner, a renowned origins-of-life chemist, and Christopher Adcock, a leading researcher on the topic, both agreed that this scenario is highly plausible.
The concept of panspermia traces back to the fifth century BC, when Greek philosopher Anaxagoras mentioned it in his works, albeit on a smaller scale. Over the centuries, as humanity’s understanding of the universe expanded, so did the theory. Its popularity surged again when asteroids discovered in 1984 and 1996 appeared to contain organic molecules.
Today, most scientists agree that Mars was a drastically different planet billions of years ago, with a thick atmosphere, liquid oceans, and conditions likely capable of supporting life. Only through manned missions to Mars will we be able to uncover definitive evidence to confirm or refute these claims.
4. Nuclear War on Mars?
In 2014, propulsion expert John Brandenburg claimed that Mars experienced at least two massive nuclear explosions in its history. He pointed to the high levels of Xenon-129 in the atmosphere and elevated concentrations of uranium and thorium in the soil as evidence. Unlike mainstream scientists, Brandenburg believes these explosions were not natural occurrences.
In 2011, Brandenburg asserted that the Cydonia and Utopia regions on Mars displayed signs of an advanced ancient humanoid civilization, with evidence of catastrophic events limited to these areas. Initially, he believed these nuclear disasters were natural, but their specific locations raised questions.
By 2014, Brandenburg became convinced the explosions were deliberate, noting that the only areas showing signs of nuclear disaster also hinted at past societal activity. He claimed to have evidence “consistent with mixed fusion-fission explosions,” suggesting the use of nuclear weapons. He further theorized that the attacks were likely orchestrated by an alien race, possibly organic or AI.
While Brandenburg’s theories resonate with conspiracy theorists, they lack support from mainstream scientists.
3. The Numerous Mysterious ‘Objects’ Spotted on Mars
From the Viking missions to today, countless images of Mars have been shared with the public. While many see a barren landscape of sand and rocks, others have identified peculiar and intriguing features that spark curiosity.
In 2015, a photo gained attention for what appeared to be a ruined pillar or column, along with petroglyphs resembling those from ancient Egypt. That same year, another image circulated on social media, allegedly showing an alien woman on Martian mountains. Earlier, a widely discussed photo was said to depict a woman walking on the planet’s surface.
Numerous images have been claimed to show human-like bones and skulls scattered across Mars, while others suggest sightings of Martian creatures, such as lizards and rats. One of the most famous claims emerged in 2015, when an observer reported spotting a crab-like creature on the planet.
Officially, these sightings are dismissed as optical illusions or tricks of light. However, researchers and conspiracy theorists argue that the images reveal more than we’re being told. Such claims are likely to persist until a manned mission finally explores Mars firsthand.
2. The Face and the Ancient City of Cydonia
One of the most famous modern mysteries of Mars is the so-called “Face on Mars,” first spotted in a 1976 photograph from the Viking mission. Initially, many believed the image depicted a human-like face staring back from the planet’s surface. However, subsequent studies dismissed it as a trick of light, with photos from 1998 and 2001 appearing to support this conclusion.
Conspiracy theorists, however, argue that the later images were deliberately taken from angles that obscured the face. They also claim the structure’s precision suggests it is not a natural formation.
More controversially, theorists claim there are clear remnants of an ancient city near the Face, including the previously mentioned pyramids. They argue that the high concentration of “structures” in this area points to the ruins of a civilization that thrived thousands of years ago. They also highlight the city’s seemingly deliberate and organized layout.
Researchers suggest that before Mars’ last pole shift, both the city and the Face would have been positioned directly on the Martian equator, a detail they believe indicates intentional planning. In their book The Mars Mystery—A Tale Of The End Of Two Worlds, authors Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval, and John Grigsby extensively analyzed the alleged Martian city, concluding that the structures likely belong to an ancient civilization.
1. Stargate ‘Discovered’ on Mars
In September 2015, UFO researchers examining photos of Mars’ surface identified what they believed to be a stargate partially buried in the ground. The object’s perfectly straight lines caught their attention, along with what appeared to be the remains of a damaged roof. At the center of the structure was a circular opening, further fueling speculation.
While these theories align with other claims of advanced ancient Martian civilizations, there is no scientific evidence to support this particular idea. Even if the object were proven artificial—a significant discovery in itself—there is no indication it functions as a portal. Although some ancient texts mention connections between Earth and Mars, these interpretations remain highly debated.
NASA has remained silent on this specific “discovery,” but some conspiracy theorists argue that the agency is well aware of ancient Martian technology. This, they claim, is why NASA is eager to expedite missions to Mars.
