# These 'metallic' dunes on Mars look like sci-fi. What are they really?

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-18 03:29 UTC · Category: Science · Sources: 7 · Current Velocity: 6.61

## Executive Summary
New high-resolution images from the Mars Express probe reveal 100-meter-high 'metallic' waves located within the Kaiser Crater.

## Intelligence Brief
The Mars Express probe has captured detailed images and a 3D topographic map of the Kaiser Crater in the Southern Highlands of Mars. These images show wave-like formations reaching 100 meters in height, which have been described as 'metallic' in appearance.


Coverage from the European Space Agency, Phys.org, and IFLScience emphasizes the visual nature of these formations, while Orbital Today notes that they are not actually metal. UA.NEWS and Space further highlight the scale and sci-fi aesthetic of the dunes.


Further analysis of these 'metallic' waves on ancient Mars is expected as the data from the Mars Express probe is processed.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Where on Mars were these dunes found?
They are located in the Kaiser Crater within Mars's Southern Highlands.

### How large are these formations?
The waves are reported to be 100 meters high.

### Which mission captured the images?
The images were captured by the Mars Express probe.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Metallic, Mars Express, Kaiser Crater, Mars Express Transmits Gorgeous Images, Metallic Waves In Mars's Southern Highlands, High-Resolution Images Reveal Metallic Sand Dunes, Mars Express Probe, Topographic, Metal Dunes Not On Mars

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orbital Today | Metal Dunes (Not) On Mars! | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMibEFVX3lxTE5KRTR5eFlVUzlDZWhBQjBQV3dGTWRSOFBaRzhuckZEcElxX0Z0X0RjT3o5UkJHWHdSdWR3ZWxnV0JZcWQtNlh6d21wbkJVZXRlRE81d3FjalhjLVhzVUF1eWRFXzV3Y2ZjVHM2UA?oc=5) |
| Daily Beirut | High-Resolution Images Reveal Metallic Sand Dunes on Mars from Mars Express Probe | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiywFBVV95cUxQR2FMbkZPYjR6WTBRdDNKcGxXWnZhV1hueHBmQWFSY2QzSzBvdVZrR1ZBYVhIT0UwX195ZEtlVWNrc1FmVEc2OFVxaG1mNjA4bktKVFViTGpXaDl2WFJQcHM5UktyWjJFaFlEMXlEQXV3QjhvemdqeXVMOUwyTTNzWXZxWnF0WXlmX21HOHVFaDc2aWFuVm9nZVNVcDhoeVlWZDJlSzBjRnh4SFVxV2J1RElCZHZGU0kxRS1uSTN6S0p0bnNOOXBiX2Qtdw?oc=5) |
| Phys.org | Metallic waves on ancient Mars | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZ0FVX3lxTE1aNFU3a2lfX2lDeFFncHJSMUtIbEF0c2JkVVd2QTZVN0dvRFNIMlJhUHg3RTdPZWk4WVkwOC1OMkhaQ2NlSGVHZ3JDUUdkdDNaSEk4UkJfaDZpdjBfUXJFZ3BpRmtaM0U?oc=5) |
| European Space Agency | Topographic map of Kaiser Crater on Mars | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxPZExIN0NTcHJDSmhEV0RjdS1SYkt3ZUFFOEp3anA0RkkyaE5nWFJ0VHAzYXJ1U3JBT0JJeWJPQUhFbWZ4SlF5a1BIdWYyUzljZTM1RU5mNlBwVVVFbnV5RjcwM0F5UVFMOUE2SndlVEZyWWhxM1ZTMlZydGNlUlQ0bnZhV3pHNjUzZEd1NjBhV04xZ0JI?oc=5) |
| European Space Agency | The floor of Mars’s Kaiser Crater from above | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxNS2VucGRzTmluZWFOYUZlTVVNdHh2dWVUM2lOMDJxa1FqelFMWnhYUWllOG9wSllVdnZBeTJJWThMN1pfVTlBNDIyY0lJeHQ2WWtPS0NOa3ktSGdTMWpDcnJJQ1d1UUgzdW0yYXM3SkFjSWt6d1NHZXF0cXhjamx4eXl1bWFBTVN2cmxVcDdXN0w3M3dkazlCNlN3?oc=5) |
| UA.NEWS | Mars Express captured clear images of 100-meter-high waves in a crater on Mars | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxPaV82R2F1V1pfSXZEUVVETFp4Zl9INlZTU1hfNUROb1p6SVV6MFNHWHJaT29MZXgtUHptel9FWFhtTDJlcmR4T05JTXJuOFZMNUVlakphNXlMQ0N0V05UemtDZ2k2WlFWYjg2UmRBUWFfT29YWEZMNHI3cjZKT1FyRDNZSDJRYVIzbGJtWjFyQkJ2NUdsajdUZGozZTRXa0tLeTl0Ny1GQQ?oc=5) |
| Phys.org | Metallic waves on ancient Mars | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTE5Qang2ekZVTjRubzlJRktaYzFTMTJObWJlWW1YcW5HWWw4ZkVmbXJnYnRiRzdOWkhlYjN5OEV0SnFvQ2FrcVVKQWVqVk80WlVuc09lcVJJV1JhVWRlWDlzc0FXajJvYTZQSEF6SENPNF92UdIBckFVX3lxTE5Qang2ekZVTjRubzlJRktaYzFTMTJObWJlWW1YcW5HWWw4ZkVmbXJnYnRiRzdOWkhlYjN5OEV0SnFvQ2FrcVVKQWVqVk80WlVuc09lcVJJV1JhVWRlWDlzc0FXajJvYTZQSEF6SENPNF92UQ?oc=5) |
| European Space Agency | Mars’s Kaiser Crater in 3D | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxPblRmN3NKSFQzc3NoVXJja0huNjM2QjRRWEhJNGx1c0g2UHVkWTBwelpZS3lfMTQzaFdzdlBlWUlpaXZVaEdibzlVY1UwVDRvaVMzOXJnM1FqSjB4clRCZndGWUMwUHhfY3ZGd3VQUlRTX1Z2bjlPc1JMbEhzSDFhbERn?oc=5) |
| IFLScience | Mars Express Transmits Gorgeous Images Of 100-Meter "Metallic" Waves In Mars's Southern Highlands | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixgFBVV95cUxNYU53aDVJOHlBWkVYUGxhbTlybVBaUlJWLWFXZkNVUWNCb2FMOWtQdFVVX3owZWg2bjNXY3JsMURyMllKdjh5VzFPNmI4aUxKTGpMMThvMUJVaHBic1hpZW5YZzdQTjNjS1REVmNxSUFoeVdUdHdwWWoybFVLSHFoZDF0dmYyejliTlJRMFI4RW1SRXR5azJnRjFoM0JKWGlqcXFxLVNRclBWams1dHhmaW1IanpDQVE1WHNnWjNkRzR6NFV1WXc?oc=5) |
| Space | These 'metallic' dunes on Mars look like sci-fi. What are they really? | 2026-07-17 21:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxPb2pXZHBXMUhmVGZyM3FSTzBZLXV0ck1Jck10VzFsLXBUbDRCa1BZZUk1a2NDQUNPVUpobjB4RGlrb2wzVWFDWktsMmdrRmZfT0pjcC0tQkYyaU1GNDBQQTg5UUZXbXNLbE1WUjhpeGhUeGdCTnVfb2NMV0NLeU9YdzRlemFQQThhZXhOUkV2U2xLekd6ZE5pcFJiY0NLRmNVT2hBOGhR?oc=5) |

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