Mars has no molten core, thus no magnetic field to shield the planet from our sun’s solar wind. Because of that, it can never retain an earth-like atmosphere.
Perhaps one day humans will figure out how to restart the planet’s internal dynamo, which would create a magnetic field. It’s the only way to build a breathable atmosphere on Mars.
I have a theory that the earths core runs at a different speed than the outer crust because of a meteor hit.
I can’t figure out any reason why the core would spin at a different rate.
So, if the crust moves at a different speed, then it may swing pack and forth like a garden gate door on springy hinges. It goes back and forth until the motion eventually dies out.
That would explain the magnetic poles reversing too. Along with occasional extinctions.