Will Earth's Lava Flows Decipher Ancient Mars'?

Drones are helping scientists understand Earth's lava flows, which could tell us more about ancient Mars. (Credit: Shuttershock) Lava flow: an unstoppable destructive force that burns pretty much everything in its path. When a volcano erupts, it’s important that people in surrounding areas have adequate time to evacuate. To provide those crucial extra hours, or minutes, researchers are using drones to improve hazard predictions, and perhaps tell us something about life on ancient Mars. Drones allow volcanologists to map large areas quickly, cheaply and, most of all, safely using magnetometers and thermal cameras. Scientists are even flying drones through eruption plumes to study the chemical composition of Earth's hot, steamy belches.