Discovery of a Subsurface Reservoir of Liquid Water on Mars

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In a landmark discovery that could reshape our understanding of Mars, scientists have identified a substantial reservoir of liquid water deep within the planet's rocky outer crust. This finding, derived from a meticulous analysis of data collected by NASA's Mars Insight Lander, represents the first confirmed detection of liquid water on Mars—a revelation that could have profound implications for our understanding of the planet's history, its geology, and the potential for life.

 

The Insight Lander, which touched down on Mars in 2018, was equipped with a sensitive seismometer, a device designed to record vibrations or "Mars quakes" from deep within the planet. Over the course of four years, this instrument captured a wealth of seismic data, allowing scientists to study how the Red Planet moves and reacts to internal forces. The analysis of these vibrations revealed "seismic signals" indicative of the presence of liquid water deep within Mars' crust.

 

While it has long been known that water exists on Mars in frozen form at the poles and as vapor in the atmosphere, this discovery marks the first time that liquid water has been detected beneath the planet's surface. The findings were published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, shedding new light on Mars' geological history and offering insights into its climate and potential habitability.

 

The Insight Lander's mission officially concluded in December 2022, after four years of diligently "listening" to the "pulse of Mars." During this time, the probe recorded an impressive 1,319 quakes, each of which provided critical data for understanding the planet's internal structure. By analyzing the speed at which seismic waves traveled through Mars, scientists were able to infer the composition of the materials they passed through. As explained by Professor Michael Manga from the University of California, Berkeley, "These are actually the same techniques we use to prospect for water on Earth, or to look for oil and gas."

 

The detailed analysis led to the discovery of water reservoirs at depths ranging from six to twelve miles (approximately 10 to 20 kilometers) within the Martian crust. This revelation is particularly significant because it suggests that Mars may have retained more of its ancient water than previously thought, hidden away beneath its barren surface. 

 

"Understanding the Martian water cycle is critical for understanding the evolution of the climate, surface, and interior," emphasized Dr. Vashan Wright, the lead researcher from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The presence of liquid water deep within the planet's crust could provide crucial clues about the history of Mars' climate and its transition from a potentially habitable world to the arid desert we observe today.

 

Professor Manga further underscored the importance of this discovery by stating that water is "the most important molecule in shaping the evolution of a planet." He added that this finding addresses a long-standing question in planetary science: "Where did all the Martian water go?" The presence of liquid water deep underground offers a compelling answer to this mystery, suggesting that a significant portion of Mars' water may still be present, albeit hidden beneath the surface.

 

Historical studies of Mars' surface, which reveal the presence of ancient channels and ripples, indicate that the planet once harbored rivers and lakes, possibly sustaining a more Earth-like environment. However, for the past three billion years, Mars has been a cold, dry desert. It is widely believed that much of the planet's water was lost to space when Mars lost its atmosphere. But as Professor Manga pointed out, "much of our water is underground, and there's no reason for that not to be the case on Mars too."

 

This groundbreaking discovery opens up new avenues for future research, not only in understanding Mars' geological and climatic history but also in exploring the potential for life on the Red Planet. The presence of liquid water is a key ingredient for life as we know it, and finding it on Mars raises intriguing possibilities about the planet's past and its capacity to support life, either in its distant history or possibly even today.

 

As scientists continue to analyze the data from the Insight mission, the implications of this discovery will likely continue to unfold, offering new insights into the mysteries of Mars and its evolution. The detection of liquid water deep within Mars' crust is not just a scientific triumph; it is a testament to the enduring human quest to explore and understand our neighboring worlds.

 

Credit: BBC  2024-08-14

 

 

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[Trentham]

I guess if they discovered a girlie bar this post would attract a few more responses.

[Nick Carter icp]

7 minutes ago, Trentham said:

I guess if they discovered a girlie bar this post would attract a few more responses.

 

  Or claim that the Space ship is Israeli, funded by Donald Trump 

[Dionigi]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  Or claim that the Space ship is Israeli, funded by Donald Trump 

you mean it isn't?

[parallelman]

Probably in the form of some kind of 'chemical mud' in porous material and at that depth we aren't going to know anytime soon.

[PETERTHEEATER]

The outstanding point in this report is the determination that water is a liquid.😋

[freeworld]

Good news just in time for Musks targets of sending humans to Mars.

 

"In 2016, the SpaceX founder unveiled his grand ambition to set up a city on Mars. At that time, Musk hoped to see a crewed mission to our planetary neighbor happen as soon as 2024. Since then, the company has made a lot of progress in building its Mars rocket, but not quite fast enough to meet that initial timeline. 

On Wednesday, Musk revealed on Twitter that he now sees 2029 as the earliest date humans might first step on Mars. That would be 60 years since the first moon landing in 1969."