A Harvard scientist has put forward a bold theory: an ancient civilization on Mars was annihilated by a nuclear attack.
While it sounds like something out of a sci-fi film like The Edge of Tomorrow, Dr. John Brandenburg first introduced the idea in 2011, grounding it in what he claims is scientific evidence. According to Brandenburg, ancient Martians—referred to as the Cydonians and Utopians—were the victims of a devastating, planet-wide assault. He argues that signs of this catastrophic event can still be observed on the Martian surface today.
One of his key points is Mars’ signature red color. While it’s commonly attributed to iron oxide, Brandenburg theorizes it could also be the result of nuclear fallout. He further points to the presence of certain chemical elements on Mars that, he says, are strikingly similar to those found at nuclear weapons test sites on Earth.
Brandenburg claims that Mars’ red hue came from the fallout of a massive thermonuclear explosion (MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty)
Many scientists remain skeptical of the theory, citing a lack of solid, peer-reviewed evidence—such as a definitive blast crater or unmistakable signs of a nuclear detonation. They also note that Dr. Brandenburg’s original paper was published in a relatively obscure scientific journal, further casting doubt on its credibility.
Despite the criticism, the theory has gained renewed attention on social media. On a recent episode of the Danny Jones Podcast, which boasts over a million subscribers, philosopher and sci-fi writer Jason Reza Jorjani discussed Dr. Brandenburg’s “alarming evidence” of ancient life on Mars.
“Every planet has a certain amount of isotopes of different materials on it, and apparently the isotopic ratio of Xenon-129 is consistent across the entire solar system—except for Mars,” Jorjani explained. The research points to an unusually high concentration of Xenon-129 in Mars’ atmosphere, which some claim is a leftover signature of past nuclear explosions. Xenon-129 is a stable, non-radioactive isotope that can be produced during nuclear fusion and fission.
NASA, however, offers a different perspective. While the space agency has acknowledged elevated levels of Xenon-126 in the Cydonia region, it attributes the anomaly to surface morphology—suggesting the readings may simply be the result of optical illusions caused by the planet’s terrain.
The CIA has never confirmed if there is or, ever was, life on the Red Planet (Donald Iain Smith / Getty)
According to mainstream scientists, the chemical elements found in the Martian atmosphere could have originated from natural processes—such as meteor impacts or gases escaping from the planet’s rocky surface materials, including soil and fragmented rocks.
Jason Reza Jorjani, however, continues to back Dr. Brandenburg’s controversial theory.
“When a thermonuclear bomb is detonated, it leaves behind a trace of Xenon-129, which is not typically found in such concentrations,” Jorjani explained. “Dr. Brandenburg argues this is a very distinct and unmistakable signature—one specifically associated with thermonuclear weapon detonations.”
Jorjani also claims Brandenburg’s findings are connected to a declassified CIA report that references once-intelligent life on Mars, which allegedly came to an end due to internal ‘corruption’ on the planet.
Still, the CIA has never publicly confirmed the existence of life on Mars. Jorjani elaborated: “When you line up the CIA data with Brandenburg’s thesis, the nuclear event he describes could’ve taken place around 100 million years ago.” He also mentioned that in 1984, psychic Joe McMoneagle was tasked with “remote viewing” Mars as part of a CIA-backed operation conducted at the Monroe Institute—a program that explored paranormal methods for intelligence gathering.
