Mars Might Have Water

On April 13th 2015, scientists at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory announced that Mars might have water. According to University College of London's Prof. Andrew Coates, the evidence so far has been water on Mars exists, but only as permafrost. He goes on to say, that new data has revealed that there is water on Mars right now.

The latest findings suggest that the surface of Mars is damp with a liquid brine. This brine, or perchlorate is a kind of salt that lowers the freezing point of water. When this perchlorate is mixed with water, it can exist down to a temperature of around -70C. It is believed that during the day the conditions are right for moisture in the Martian air to be absorbed by the salty soil, and that the resultant liquid water may pool or even puddle at night.

Co investigator on the Curiosity Rover, Bo Madsen says that the Martian soil is very porous, and what is being witnessed on Mars is the water seeping down through the soil. He says that because of this, other salts may also dissolve into that water, making it difficult for life to take hold. Other factors, such as cosmic radiation may also serve to prohibit the emergence of life. However, researchers make note that there are microbes on the Earth known as extremophiles, which exhibit the ability to thrive in the harshest of environmental conditions.

With this new discovery, there is still the possibility that some type of organism may yet be found living in the cold, desolate, irradiated conditions that exists on Mars. This may just be the first, small step in the discovery of life on Mars.