NASA announces signs of liquid water found on Mars
Dark streaks on Mars are evidence of liquid water on the red planet, NASA said in a groundbreaking announcement Monday, fueling further speculation that if life ever existed on Mars, it could persist to today. Satellite images captured the telltale signs of downhill flowing water on what appear to be slopes associated with salt deposits — salt being key, as it would keep water from freezing or turning to vapor in Mars' air.
"There pretty much has to have been liquid water recently present to produce the hydrated salt," Alfred S. McEwen, the principal investigator of images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, told The New York Times.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
