The lake, however, would not be drinkable, and lies almost 1.5 km beneath the icy surface in a harsh and frigid environment.
International News → A massive underground lake has been detected for the first time on Mars, raising the possibility that more water -- and maybe even life -- exists there, international astronomers. Located under a layer of Martian ice, the lake is about 20 km wide, said the report led by Italian researchers in the US journal Science. It is the largest body of liquid water ever found on the Red Planet.
"This is a stunning result that suggests water on Mars is not a temporary trickle like previous discoveries but a persistent body of water that provides the conditions for life for extended periods of time," said Alan Duffy, an associate professor at Swinburne University in Australia, who was not involved in the study.
Mars is now cold, barren and dry but used to be warm and wet. It was home to plenty of liquid water and lakes at least 3.6 billion years ago.
Scientists are eager to find signs of contemporary water, because such discoveries are key to unlocking the mystery of whether life ever formed on Mars in its ancient past, or if it might persist today.
First lake of liquid water discovered on Mars
Being able to access water sources could also help humans survive on a future crewed mission to Earth's neighbouring planet. This particular lake, however, would not be drinkable, and lies almost 1.5 km beneath the icy surface in a harsh and frigid environment.Whether microbial forms of life lie within is a matter of debate. Some experts are skeptical of the possibility since the lake is so cold and briny, and mixed with a heavy dose of dissolved Martian salts and minerals. The temperature is likely below the freezing point of pure water, but can remain liquid due to the presence of magnesium, calcium, and sodium.
The discovery was made using radar instruments on board the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, which launched in 2003. The tool is called the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS), and was designed to find subsurface water by sending radar pulses....continue reading
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