For decades, the possibility of water existing on Mars has intrigued scientists and the general public alike. While surface-level observations suggest that Mars is now a dry and dusty planet, new research based on data from NASA’s InSight lander indicates that there may still be a substantial amount of water beneath the Martian surface. This discovery reignites the debate over whether Mars could support microbial life and what implications this might have for future exploration and colonization efforts.
The Discovery: Water Beneath Mars’ Surface
Recent findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveal that water might be hiding within fractures in underground rocks, roughly 11.5 km to 20 km below Mars’ surface. The conclusions are based on seismic measurements from NASA’s InSight lander, which captured over 1,300 marsquakes during its mission before it was decommissioned two years ago.
The seismic data collected was analyzed using computer models, with researchers suggesting that the presence of water is the most likely explanation for the observed seismic readings. Vashan Wright of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, the lead scientist of the research, emphasized the significance of these findings. He pointed out that, on Earth, where there is enough water and energy, microbial life can exist deep beneath the surface. If similar conditions exist on Mars, it raises the possibility of life in the Martian subsurface.
How Much Water?
One of the most exciting aspects of this discovery is the potential volume of water. If InSight’s location at Elysium Planitia is representative of the broader Martian environment, Wright suggests that the underground water could be enough to fill a global ocean 1-2 km deep. Such a significant volume of water would have accumulated billions of years ago when Mars had rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans on its surface.
These ancient bodies of water likely vanished as Mars’ atmosphere thinned, leading to the desolate landscape we see today. However, much of that water may not have disappeared entirely—it could still be trapped beneath the surface, as the seismic data implies.
Implications for Life
The discovery of underground water on Mars adds to the growing body of evidence that the planet could support life—at least in microbial form. Life on Earth has been found to thrive in extreme conditions, including deep beneath the surface where water and energy sources are available. The same could be true for Mars, provided that the conditions are right.
As Wright points out, the “ingredients for life as we know it” may exist on Mars, particularly in its subsurface. The presence of water, combined with energy sources such as geothermal heat, could create a hospitable environment for microorganisms.
However, confirming the presence of life will require more than just seismic data. Future missions will need to drill deep into the Martian surface to directly sample the water and search for any signs of microbial life. This will be a challenging and complex task, but it could ultimately answer one of humanity’s most profound questions: Are we alone in the universe?
Challenges in Detecting Subsurface Water
While the InSight lander has provided critical insights into Mars’ underground environment, detecting and confirming the presence of water remains a significant challenge. The seismic measurements alone cannot definitively prove that water exists beneath the surface—other explanations, such as variations in rock density, could also account for the seismic data.
To obtain conclusive evidence, scientists will need to rely on future missions that can directly access the Martian subsurface. This will likely involve drilling technology capable of reaching depths of up to 20 km, which presents a host of engineering challenges given the harsh conditions on Mars.
NASA and other space agencies are already planning missions that aim to explore the Martian subsurface more thoroughly. The European Space Agency’s ExoMars mission, for example, is designed to search for signs of life by drilling up to two meters below the surface, while future missions may focus on even deeper exploration.
The Future of Martian Exploration
The discovery of potential underground water on Mars has far-reaching implications for the future of Martian exploration. If confirmed, the presence of water could make Mars a more viable candidate for future human colonization. Water is a critical resource for sustaining human life, and it could also be used to produce oxygen and fuel for rockets, reducing the need to transport these resources from Earth.
In addition to its practical applications, the discovery of water could also reshape our understanding of Mars’ history. Scientists have long believed that Mars once had a much thicker atmosphere and a more temperate climate, allowing liquid water to exist on its surface. The new findings suggest that some of that water may have been preserved underground, providing a unique opportunity to study Mars’ past.
Potential underground water
The discovery of potential underground water on Mars represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the Red Planet. While much work remains to be done to confirm these findings and explore their implications, the research highlights the possibility that Mars could still harbor the conditions necessary for life. As scientists continue to analyze the data from the InSight lander and prepare for future missions, the prospect of discovering life on Mars seems closer than ever.
References
- Wright, V., Morzfeld, M., & Manga, M. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
- NASA Mars InSight Mission Overview. (2024). NASA.
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography. (2024).
