For years, scientists have wondered if liquid water still exists on Mars. Although the Red Planet was once covered with rivers and lakes, its surface is now dry and barren.
However, new research led by Dr. Weijia Sun from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Hrvoje Tkalčić from The Australian National University, Dr. Marco G. Malusà from the University of Milano-Bicocca, and Dr. Yongxin Pan from the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggests that liquid water might still be hidden beneath the Martian surface.
The research team used data from NASA’s InSight mission, which has been recording seismic activity on Mars since its landing.
By studying the seismic waves generated by two large meteorite impacts (S1000a and S1094b) and the biggest marsquake ever recorded (S1222a), the scientists were able to analyze the structure of the Martian crust.
Their findings revealed something surprising: at a depth of 5.4 to 8 kilometers beneath the surface, there is a significant reduction in seismic wave speeds. This drop, called a “low shear-wave velocity anomaly,” is often linked to the presence of liquid water.
The researchers believe that this slow-down in seismic waves could be caused by liquid water trapped in the porous rocks of Mars’ upper crust.
They estimated that the volume of water in this region could be equal to a layer of water 520 to 780 meters thick if spread evenly across the entire planet.
This amount of water would be substantial, hinting that Mars may still hold large underground water reserves.
However, the team also emphasized that these findings are based on data collected from one spot on Mars—the location of the InSight lander.
There may be differences in the crust’s structure across the planet, and more measurements from other locations would be needed to confirm the true extent of Mars’ hidden water.
The researchers also pointed out that their calculations do not account for ancient water that might still be locked deep in the Martian crust, meaning there could be even more water than estimated.
This discovery is significant not just for understanding Mars’ past, but also for its future. Liquid water is crucial for life, and finding it on Mars would be a major step toward understanding if life ever existed—or could exist—on the Red Planet.
Future missions with more advanced seismometers could help confirm the presence of this water and reveal even more secrets hidden beneath the surface.
This breakthrough brings us closer to solving one of Mars’ greatest mysteries: the fate of its water and its potential to support life.
Source: KSR.
