Scientists claim that life on Mars was wiped by nuclear attack by aliens

To the disbelief of many, Harvard astrophysicist John Brandenburg believes that intelligent life once existed on Mars and was wiped out by a nuclear war.

His theory, which first surfaced in 2014, claims the planet's red hue is due to a thermonuclear explosion, citing chemical elements on Mars that resemble those found near nuclear test sites on Earth.

Brandenburg argues that high levels of xenon-129 in the Martian atmosphere, along with uranium and thorium on its surface, support the idea of a past explosion.

Xenon-129 is a non-radioactive gas naturally found on Earth but also released during nuclear reactions. Notably, this isotope's ratio on Mars is different from the rest of the solar system.

NASA, however, remains unconvinced.

Although elevated xenon-129 levels were found in the Kidonia region—a site that features oddly-shaped structures resembling pyramids and faces, scientists attribute this to asteroid impacts and optical illusions caused by the planet's surface and lighting.

Brandenburg's theory recently resurfaced through Jason Reza Jorjani, a science fiction writer who supported the claims in a recent interview.

Jorjani referred to a declassified 1984 CIA report detailing a project where psychics remotely viewed Mars.

These individuals reported visions of giant pyramids, dying humanoid creatures, and a ruined civilisation with an unbreathable atmosphere.

Despite widespread scepticism from the scientific community and lack of mainstream journal validation, Brandenburg continues to defend his controversial claim, suggesting Mars may hold the secrets of a catastrophic ancient past.