NASA Announces It Has Discovered Liquid Water on Mars
The holy grail of space exploration is to find extraterrestrial life. An important precursor to that is finding liquid water—and that’s exactly what NASA today announced scientists have discovered on Mars.
The holy grail of space exploration is to find extraterrestrial life. An important precursor to that is finding liquid water—and that’s exactly what NASA today announced scientists have discovered on Mars.
The findings, which are described in the journal Nature Geoscience, offer an explanation for peculiar, long streaks that sometimes appear on sloping Martian terrain. The dark features, which can reach 5 meters wide and more than 100 meters long, were first noticed in 2010. By analyzing their reflected light signature, a team of eight scientists has concluded that the streaks consist of mineral salts that easily absorb moisture—and that flowing water is the likeliest explanation for their appearance.
The Red Planet has been known for years to have ice, and its surface bears the topographical scars of ancient water flow. This latest research, though, is the first to provide compelling evidence for the ongoing existence of flowing water on Mars.
Dark narrow streaks called “recurring slope lineae” line the walls of Garni crater, on Mars. The dark streaks here are up to few hundred meters in length. Researchers believe they may provide evidence of flowing, briny water on the Red Planet. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)
NASA scientists announce the discovery of water on Mars
Liquid Water on Today’s Mars
Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream
Measuring Mars’ Ancient Ocean
NASA confirms that liquid water flows on Mars
Update:
Water on Mars: Nasa faces contamination dilemma over future investigations
To stay in the loop, bookmark ATNNow – All the News Now.