The Mysterious Acceleration of Mars' Rotation Baffles Scientists

Scientists have discovered that Mars is spinning faster each year, shortening the length of a Martian day by a fraction of a millisecond. The cause of this acceleration is still unknown, but it could provide insights into Mars' past evolution. Hypotheses include long-term trends such as accumulating material at the polar ice caps and interior dynamics. The data was obtained from the now-retired InSight lander, which provided precise measurements of Mars' rotation through radio communications. Additionally, the data allowed scientists to refine measurements of Mars' core structure, revealing density variations that will be further investigated.