A team of geophysicists has discovered that liquid water exists on Mars deep within its outer crust, not just as ice on its poles or vapor in its atmosphere. Using data from NASA’s Mars Insight Lander, the scientists analyzed seismic velocities to determine the presence of fractured igneous rocks saturated with water. This finding challenges the theory that Mars lost most of its water to space, suggesting that it may still be trapped in the planet’s crust. Published in PNAS, the study estimates that there’s enough liquid water beneath Mars’ surface to form a layer that’s half a mile deep. While this discovery could benefit space exploration efforts, accessing Mars’ water reservoirs, located around 7 to 12.5 miles below the surface, presents significant challenges. Prof Michael Manga noted that without liquid water, there is no possibility of sustaining life on the planet.
