Volcanoes could still be active on Mars, new research suggests The barren landscape of Mars makes the planet seem like a quiet, frozen desert where nothing has happened for billions of years except for the occasional dust storm. New research, however, suggests that the red planet has a more recent history of activity - and it could still be volcanically active. Scientists still are trying to understand the history of Mars, and NASA rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance can help uncover evidence to piece together the planet's time line. READ MORE: The Mars Ingenuity helicopter, right, flies over the surface of the planet on Friday, April 30, 2021. (AP)