NASA Reveals 'Strongest Evidence Yet' of Flowing Water on Present-Day Mars

This undated photo provided by NASA and taken by an instrument aboard the agency's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows dark, narrow, 100 meter-long streaks on the surface of Mars that scientists believe were caused by flowing streams of salty water. Photo N

New findings from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) provide the strongest evidence yet that liquid water is flowing intermittently on Mars, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) revealed on Monday.

Using an imaging spectrometer on MRO, researchers had detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where mysterious streaks are seen on Mars, NASA said on its website.

According to the US space agency, these darkish streaks appear to ebb and flow over time. They appear in several locations on Mars when temperatures are above minus 23 degrees Celsius, and disappear at colder times.

“Our quest on Mars has been to ‘follow the water,’ in our search for life in the universe, and now we have convincing science that validates what we’ve long suspected,” said John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “This is a significant development, as it appears to confirm that water -- albeit briny -- is flowing today on the surface of Mars,” according to the statement.

 

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