New research based on seismic measurements from NASA's Mars InSight lander indicates that Mars may be drenched beneath its surface, with enough water hiding in the cracks of underground rocks to potentially form a global ocean. The findings, released recently, are derived from the detection of over 1,300 marsquakes by the InSight lander before it ceased operations two years ago.
The water, believed to be located between seven to twelve miles (11.5 to 20 kilometers) down in the Martian crust, is speculated to have seeped from the surface billions of years ago when Mars likely had rivers, lakes, and even oceans. However, the presence of water inside Mars does not necessarily imply the existence of life, according to the lead scientist.
The research team combined computer models with InSight readings, including the velocity of the quakes, to conclude that underground water was the most plausible explanation. If the water detected at InSight's location near Mars' equator is representative of the entire planet, it could potentially fill a global ocean around a mile or so (1 to 2 kilometers) deep.
Confirmation of the presence of water and any potential signs of microbial life would require drills and specialized equipment. Despite the InSight lander no longer being operational, scientists are actively analyzing the data collected from 2018 to 2022 to gain further insights into Mars' interior.
Mars, which was wet almost all over more than 3 billion years ago, is believed to have lost its surface water as its atmosphere thinned, transforming it into the dry, dusty world we know today. Scientists hypothesize that much of the ancient water on Mars either escaped into space or remains buried below the surface.
