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.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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.
