Mars' gravity pulls Earth closer to the Sun, warming our climate, scientists say New research hints at a fascinating and completely unexpected connection between Mars’s gravitational field and Earth’s climate. Geological evidence spanning over 65 million years suggests that deep-sea currents on Earth undergo recurring cycles of strength every 2.4 million years. These cycles, referred to as “astronomical grand cycles,” appear linked to gravitational interactions between Earth and Mars.

Mars’ gravitational pull on Earth Due to this resonance, Mars’s gravitational pull draws Earth slightly closer to the Sun, which leads to increased solar radiation and a warmer climate. Over time, Earth drifts back again, completing this cycle roughly every 2.4 million years. This subtle gravitational influence might play a role in shaping Earth’s long-term climatic patterns. The researchers used satellite data to map sediment accumulation on the ocean floor across millions of years. The team discovered gaps in the geological record, suggesting that stronger ocean currents during warmer periods, caused by Mars’s influence, might have disrupted sediment deposition. These findings add to the growing evidence that celestial mechanics, including Mars’s gravitational pull, impact Earth’s climate.

However, the researchers clarified that this warming effect is unrelated to the current global warming driven by human greenhouse gas emissions.

“Our deep-sea data spanning 65 million years suggests that warmer oceans have more vigorous deep circulation,” explained Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study’s lead author and a sedimentologist at the University of Sydney.