New Mars study suggests an ocean’s worth of water may be hiding beneath the red dusty surface
SUMMARY
New research suggests that Mars may have significant amounts of water hidden beneath its surface, enough to form a global ocean. This conclusion is based on seismic measurements from NASA’s Mars InSight lander, which detected over 1,300 marsquakes before its shutdown two years ago. The water is believed to be located 7 to 12 miles deep within the Martian crust, likely having seeped underground billions of years ago when Mars had rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans. While the presence of water doesn’t guarantee life, it indicates potentially habitable environments. The findings, combining computer models and InSight data, were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists continue to analyze InSight's data to learn more about Mars' interior and its watery history.
