Scientists uncover evidence of a hidden lake on Mars

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.

Researchers have guessed at Mars' bodies of water for decades, reports CNN, but until now there was no clear evidence to show that a significant amount of water was liquid. Salts on the surface of Mars are likely keeping the water below the freezing point, even though it's hiding under the polar ice cap, scientists say.

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The 12.5 mile-wide lake hasn't been verified by any other researchers yet, but the exciting finding opens up many possibilities. Read more at CNN.