Class Nos.

19, 20, 21

ALIENS ON MARS? LIQUID LAKE DISCOVERED ON

THE RED PLANET

(Orbital view of the north polar region of Mars)

Credits to NASA

THE LAKE ON MARS

On July 25, 2018, scientists have discovered a salt-water based frozen lake found in the southern

icy regions of Mars via a radar instrument on an orbiting spacecraft. The lake was recorded to be triangle-

shaped and approximately 12 miles long in diameter.

According to researchers, the lake’s reservoir was said to possibly inhabit microbial Martian life.

However, there isn’t enough evidence yet to prove that there’s really life below the water due to the

thickness of the ice layer of the lake.

Class Nos. 19, 20, 21

CAN THE LAKE SUSTAIN ORGANIC LIFE ON MARS?

After the lake was discovered, scientists are currently continuing their research to fully confirm

their theory that the sub-glacial lake can hold life.

In every planet, water is considered a fundamental ingredient for life. Out of the other bodies

of water discovered in Mars, this recently discovered lake’s reservoir represents the first stable body of

liquid water ever found on the planet.

As the thick layer of ice covers the lake, scientists researched that they estimate the ice to be

approximately one meter thick, as the lake is at least three feet deep and believed it could be a sub-

glacial lake, an aquifer, or a layer of sediment saturated with water.

From the fact the ice layer is thick, the lake’s temperature is estimated to be -90°F and far below

the freezing point, the research of finding any actual Martian microbes’ swimming in the lake couldn’t

be fully explored yet by human means. (For now)

REFERENCES:

 Steinbuch, Y. (2018, July 25). Scientists discover liquid lake buried deep in Mars. Retrieved August 6,
2018, from https://nypost.com/2018/07/25/scientists-discover-liquid-lake-buried-deep-in-mars/

 Aliens on Mars? Liquid lake discovered on the Red Planet. (2018, July 26). Retrieved August 6, 2018,
from, http://zeenews.india.com/world/aliens-on-mars-liquid-lake-discovered-on-the-red-planet-
2127698.html

 Halton, M. (2018, July 25). Liquid water 'lake' revealed on Mars. Retrieved August 6, 2018, from
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44952710