Have Air, Will Travel

Mars had an atmosphere that was once denser that it is today. Curiosity has confirmed this as heavier argon gas remains while the lighter argon gas is missing. We suspect it was there in the past because of the amount of argon on the Sun and Jupiter. Nasa via Curiosity.

 It is quiet possible that the planet was lush at some point, though if true, there should be something left in the fossil evidence  . . . plants, small microbes, something or the other. That's assuming it possessed water long enough to create the sludge of life.

But it seems that it had an atmosphere and doesn't now. Why? its anyone guess at this point but one theory points to the solar wind bombarding the planet with protons, which in turn destroyed molecules, tearing them apart, leaving their highly charged ions to hurl to and fro, many catching a ride on the solar winds themselves as the winds are magnetized and attract ions. Or so some would have it.

The real riddle is to find out how to bring it back so we can avoid this . . .