We might be one step closer to finding alien life.
On Monday, NASA announced it found the most solid evidence yet of liquid water on Mars' surface, The Washington Post reports.
.@NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found best evidence yet of liquid water on present Mars http://t.co/Rk7ekUw931 pic.twitter.com/kmULXaCHuM — NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) September 28, 2015
This is one of the most exciting developments in the history of space exploration.
It emboldens speculations there is microbial life on the Red Planet and signifies if astronauts someday visit the planet they might have something to help them stay hydrated.
Water! Strong evidence that liquid water flows on present-day Mars. Details: http://t.co/0MW11SANwL #MarsAnnouncement pic.twitter.com/JNksawz2iN — NASA (@NASA) September 28, 2015
Even if it turns out there isn't currently life on Mars, this is a positive sign the planet is potentially fit to live on.
Michael Meyer, lead scientist on NASA's Mars exploration program, told The Guardian,
There is liquid water today on the surface of Mars. Because of this, we suspect that it is at least possible to have a habitable environment today.
Based on images of Mar's surface, water is flowing down canyons and crater walls, but scientists aren't entirely certain where it originates from. Some reportedly hypothesize it rises up from underground ice or salty aquifers.
Past evidence suggested significant portions of Mars were once covered with water, and perhaps even an ocean, but this new finding confirms there is liquid on Mars at this very moment.
Water is essential to life. Perhaps humans will be inhabiting Mars sooner then we previously imagined.
Citations: NASA confirms the best-ever evidence for water on Mars (The Washington Post), Nasa scientists find evidence of flowing water on Mars (The Guardian)
