What happened
Scientists have found a reservoir of liquid water deep below the arid surface of Mars, raising hope of discovering life on the Red Planet. Astronomers say that billions of years ago Mars had lakes, rivers and oceans, but as the planet lost its atmosphere these bodies of water vanished. But new analysis of data recorded by Nasa's InSight Lander suggests that vast quantities of liquid water may still be trapped within rocks 10 to 20 kilometres below the Martian surface.
Who said what
"On Earth, where there is liquid water, there is life, so if liquid water aquifers are present on Mars now they are a prime target in the search for life," said Professor Bethany Ehlmann, from the Keck Institute for Space Studies, who was not involved in the work.
The discovery does not prove there is life on Mars, but raises a "tantalising possibility", said The Guardian. Oxford University Associate Professor of Planetary Materials Jon Wade told the paper that he would not be surprised if life was found on Mars. "Early in its history Mars would be as conducive to simple life as Earth, if not more so," he said.
What next?
While the discovery of liquid water is intriguing, the location of the Martian groundwater is "not good news for billionaires with Mars colonisation plans who might want to tap into it", said the BBC. According to Professor Michael Manga, who was involved in the project, "drilling a hole 10km deep on Mars – even for (Elon) Musk – would be difficult".
Although the InSight Lander is no longer working, scientists will continue to analyse the data collected from 2018 to 2022 in a bid to learn more about Mars's interior. | 
