Mars may not be volcanically dead. Lava may have flowed over its surface just a few tens of millions of years ago. Geologists say this is so recent that they cannot rule out the possibility that the Red Planet may burst into life again. A team of US scientists have identified young lava flows on the flanks of two of Mars’ largest, thought to be extinct, volcanoes. They say that to settle the issue a lander will be required to visit the sites and analyse the surface rocks.