Scientists uncover evidence of a hidden lake on Mars

Planet Mars.
(Image credit: iStock.)

Scientists have found signs of liquid water on the surface of Mars — and not just the mere droplets they've spotted before. A study by Italian researchers detected evidence of an entire lake beneath the southern polar ice cap on the Red Planet, CNN reported Wednesday.

A radar surveyed that specific area of Mars for three years, sending pulses through the planet's surface to measure the radio waves that reflected back. Some of the data came back looking suspiciously like the lakes beneath ice sheets on Earth, like in Greenland or Antarctica. "We interpret this feature as a stable body of liquid water on Mars," the researchers concluded.

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Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.