Researchers at ISAE-SUPAERO have been awarded the Newcomb Cleveland Prize for their article ‘Seismic detection of the Martian core’ published in the journal Science!

"From the reflections of seismic waves on the boundary between the core and mantle of Mars, the team was able to determine that Mars has a large core. A large core implies a mantle that is mineralogically similar to Earth's upper mantle and transition zone. However, Mars differs from Earth in terms of its core. The Martian core is much less dense, implying that a number of light elements such as oxygen and sulphur are dissolved in the iron and nickel core. This observation is difficult to reconcile with conventional models of planet formation.

"We will receive 25,000 dollars, which we have decided to donate to Médecins sans Frontières, to help the victims of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria."