Mars Shapes Earth's Ice-Age Rhythm, New Simulations Show

UC Riverside planetary astrophysicist Stephen Kane’s simulations show Mars exerts a measurable influence on Earth’s orbital variations and tilt, helping to drive Milankovitch cycles that govern ice-age timing. Removing Mars erases two long cycles (about 100,000 and 2.3 million years), while increasing Mars’ mass shortens them, suggesting outer planets can affect climates on Earth-like worlds.