Liquid Water Found on Mars, Hinting at Alien Life

Scientists have uncovered evidence of a vast amount of liquid water on Mars, enough to cover the entire planet with an ocean a mile deep, according to new research published on Monday. This discovery, made by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and UC San Diego, suggests that Mars could potentially harbor alien life. However, there is a significant challenge that could limit the practical implications of this finding.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicates that large quantities of liquid water may be deep beneath Mars’ surface. Using seismic data gathered by NASA’s InSight lander, which recorded Mars quakes, volcanic activity, and meteor impacts, the researchers employed mathematical models of rock physics—similar to those used to map underground aquifers and oil fields on Earth—to uncover evidence of a deep water reservoir. The water appears between 11.5 and 20 kilometers (approximately 7 to 12 miles) below the Martian surface, in tiny cracks and pores within the planet’s crust. Despite this discovery, the researchers noted that the water is likely inaccessible with current technology, making it of little immediate use to future Mars colonies.

Nevertheless, the finding is crucial for understanding Mars’ geological history and assessing its potential to support life. If this water could be accessed, it might provide a promising site to search for alien life on Mars. Michael Manga, a professor of Earth and planetary science at UC Berkeley and one of the study’s authors, emphasized the significance of this discovery. He remarked, “I don’t see why [the underground water] is not a habitable environment,” pointing out that extreme environments on Earth, such as deep mines and the ocean floor, are capable of sustaining life. While no evidence for life on Mars has yet been found, Manga noted that they have at least identified a place that should, in principle, be able to sustain life.

Mars, now a barren desert, once had abundant water flowing across its surface. Evidence of this is visible in the planet’s topography, which features ancient riverbeds, lakes, and ocean basins, as well as in the mineral composition of its rocks, which suggests they formed in liquid water. Because liquid water is essential for life on Earth, many researchers believe Mars was once a hospitable environment for microbial life, making it a key focus in the search for extraterrestrial life. While some water still exists on Mars today, mostly trapped in minerals within the crust or frozen in the polar ice caps, this is only a fraction of the water believed to have existed billions of years ago. Many scientists theorize that Mars lost its atmosphere over 3 billion years ago, causing its oceans to evaporate into space. However, the new research suggests that a significant portion of this water may have seeped into the planet’s crust rather than being lost to space.

Making discoveries about a planet’s history involves a combination of investigation and inference based on the available data. The researchers in this study have made several assumptions, such as the behavior of Martian rock being similar to that of Earth’s rocks. Future discoveries could lead to different interpretations. Currently, the researchers believe that the “available data are best explained by a water-saturated mid-crust.” There are still many uncertainties, however, particularly concerning the exact size, depth, and volume of the liquid water reservoirs beneath Mars’ surface. The researchers suggest that the amount of water they have identified could have been enough to fill the hypothesized ancient Martian oceans.

Understanding the distribution and amount of water on Mars is crucial for comprehending the planet’s evolution, including its surface, interior, and climate. Vashan Wright, another author of the study and a professor at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, emphasized this point. Wright stated that understanding the Martian water cycle is critical for understanding the evolution of the planet, its surface, interior, and climate. He added that a useful starting point is to identify where water is and how much is there.

One of the biggest challenges in tapping into Mars’ deepwater reserves is the depth at which they are located. According to the study, the water is situated between 11.5 and 20 kilometers below the surface, placing it near or beyond the depth of the Kola Superdeep Borehole in northwest Russia, the deepest human-made hole on Earth, which reaches 12,262 meters (approximately 7.6 miles). Drilling to such depths on Mars would be extremely challenging with current technology, though future advancements might make it possible.

The discovery of deep liquid water on Mars is a significant milestone in the ongoing exploration of the Red Planet. While the water may be difficult to access, its existence opens up new possibilities for understanding Mars’ past and the potential for life beyond Earth. The researchers hope that further exploration and technological advancements will provide more insights into this intriguing discovery.