Life on Mars?
Scientists have discovered a reservoir of liquid water on Mars, deep in the rocky outer crust of the planet.
Scientists made the discovery following new analysis of data from Nasa’s Mars Insight Lander which touched down on the Red Planet back in 2018.
The lander, which was carrying a seismometer, recorded four years of vibrations dubbed Mars-quakes.
It was whilst analysing those quakes that scientists discovered ‘seismic signals’ of liquid water.
Whilst frozen water has been located previously and evidence of vapour in the atmosphere, this is the first time liquid water has been found.
It follows the recent discovery of a vein-filled rock that contains features which suggests it may have hosted microbial life.
The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The mission which ended in December 2022, measured how fast seismic waves travel to work out what material they are most likely moving through. This same technique is used on Earth to look for water or oil and gas.
The reservoirs are thought to be between six to 12 miles in the Martian crust.
Lead researcher Dr Vashan Wright, from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography said: “Understanding the Martian water cycle is critical for understanding the evolution of the climate, surface and interior.”
Prof Michael Manga, from the University of California, Berkeley, who was involved in the research added: “Water is the most important molecule in shaping the evolution of a planet. This finding answers the question, where did all the Martian water go?”
The surface of Mars suggested that, in ancient times, there were rivers and lakes but it has been a desert for approximately three billion years.
Some of the water was lost to space when Mars lost its atmosphere but, just like on Earth, Prof Manga believes much of Mars’ water is underground.
