New Mars study suggests an ocean’s worth of water may be hiding beneath the red dusty surface
Mars may hold a vast hidden ocean beneath its surface
New research suggests that Mars may be hiding a vast amount of water beneath its surface, enough to form a global ocean. The findings, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are based on seismic measurements from NASA’s InSight lander, which detected over 1,300 marsquakes before shutting down two years ago.
Lead scientist Vashan Wright from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, along with his team, combined computer models with InSight readings to determine that underground water is the most likely explanation for the observed seismic waves. They suggest that this water, located approximately 11.5 to 20 kilometers beneath the Martian surface, likely seeped from the surface billions of years ago when Mars harbored rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans.
While the presence of this hidden water doesn’t necessarily mean life exists on Mars, it does indicate the potential for habitable environments. Further exploration through drilling and other equipment would be needed to confirm the presence of water and search for signs of microbial life.
The discovery adds another layer to our understanding of Mars’ history and potential for past or present life. As scientists continue to analyze data from the InSight mission, we can expect to uncover more secrets about the Red Planet and its hidden depths.
