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HomeTech & SciencesMars hides a huge ocean beneath its surface and it may contain...

Mars hides a huge ocean beneath its surface and it may contain life

A hidden ocean under Mars: A gigantic water reserve and a possible cradle of extraterrestrial life!

Geophysicists have discovered a vast reservoir of water beneath the surface of Mars, suggesting a potential habitat for extraterrestrial life. The discovery opens up fascinating prospects for the search for life beyond Earth.

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The discovery of an underground ocean

Researchers using seismic data from NASA's InSight lander have revealed the existence of a vast ocean beneath the crust of Mars. This hidden ocean, containing enough water to cover the planet with a layer a mile deep, remains inaccessible with current technology. This reservoir could revolutionize our understanding of Martian hydrology and opens new avenues for future colonization of the planet.

Technology and Access Challenges

The water is trapped in a layer of fractured rock located between 11.5 and 20 kilometers below the Martian crust. Reaching this reserve would require a drilling operation more ambitious than anything attempted on Earth to date, representing a major challenge for engineers and scientists. This technology, if developed, could not only be used for Martian exploration but also influence deep drilling methods on Earth.

Implications for life research

Study co-author Michael Manga says this environment could be habitable because water is essential to life as we know it. On Earth, life forms are found in similar extreme environments, which reinforces the idea that life could exist in this Martian subsurface ocean. If life is discovered, it would confirm that life can exist in extreme extraterrestrial conditions.

History of water on Mars

Marsโ€™ surfaces feature dried-up channels and lake beds, evidence that water was once abundant. About 3.5 billion years ago, a drastic climate change dehydrated the planetโ€™s surface, a mystery scientists are still struggling to solve. Understanding this phenomenon could also shed light on similar climate processes on other planets.

Methodology of the study

To probe Mars' interior, the team used data from the InSight lander, which operated from 2018 to 2022. InSight's sensors recorded Martian earthquakes, providing valuable data that was analyzed using mathematical models to map the planet's internal structure. This data is crucial for planning future missions that could attempt to drill for and analyze this underground water.

The internal structure revealed

The analysis indicated that Mars' deep crust is likely composed of fragmented igneous rock, rich in water. This finding suggests that the water did not evaporate into space, but was instead absorbed by the planet's crust, a revelation that adjusts our understanding of the Martian water cycle. This underground reservoir could serve as a source of water for future astronauts on Mars, reducing the need to transport water from Earth.

The quest for life continues

Although reaching this secret ocean is out of reach for now, Mars remains at the heart of the search for extraterrestrial life. The Perseverance rover, for example, is currently exploring the Jezero Crater and may have already collected samples containing traces of ancient life. These discoveries could be crucial in confirming the presence of past or present life on Mars.

Life on Mars Finally Confirmed? Perseverance Robot Destroys All Scientific Theories

This article explores the recent discovery of a vast, potentially habitable subsurface ocean on Mars. While this discovery marks a turning point in the search for extraterrestrial life, it also poses significant technological challenges and redefines our methods of space exploration. This major breakthrough could not only shed light on the mysteries of the ancient Martian climate but also open up new possibilities for future colonization of the planet.

Source: Livescience