Is There Ice on Mars?

Last week, NASA's Phoenix Lander discovered a possible layer of ice on Mars - which means the planet may be habitable for life forms.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on June 23 2008

David Bowie isn’t the only person to wonder if there’s life on Mars –scientists, researchers, and the general public have been asking that question ever since we first caught the planet in our Hubble telescope sights. We don’t have a definitive answer yet –but a new finding shows that the possibility isn’t out of the question.

Last week, NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander discovered small clumps of material on the so-called Red Planet. Initially, researchers couldn’t determine what the substance was, but then it began to vaporize. Within a few days, it had completely vanished –just like water would.

“These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it’s ice,” researcher Dr. Peter Smith told BBC News.

Researchers now believe that Mars may be home to a layer of water trapped beneath a permafrost shell. This intriguing prospect means that Mars may be habitable to life forms after all. We don’t expect any E.T. sightings yet, but keep tuned to what’s happening with the Phoenix Lander –you never know if they might find a trail of M&Ms somewhere nearby.

Filed under: General Interest, Science,

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