NASA finds signs of liquid water on Mars

NASA says new research signals the existence of liquid water on present-day Mars, a planet long considered desolate.

“Mars is not the dry, arid planet that we thought of in the past,” Jim Green, NASA’s planetary science division director, said at a press conference in Washington on Monday. “Today we are going to announce that under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars.”

The scientific breakthrough could fuel speculation about the possibility of finding life outside of Earth.

{mosads}Researchers have been using optical technology orbiting Mars to map dark streaks along the planet’s surface, which form in late spring, grow in summer and disappear by fall. An imaging spectrometer aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) logged the seasonal ebb and flow of the streaks.

The orbiter has been examining Mars since 2006. The mysterious dark streaks were noticed by scientists years later, in 2011, according to NASA.

“This is a significant development, as it appears to confirm that water — albeit briny — is flowing today on the surface of Mars,” said John Grunsfeld, an astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

NASA also touted the discovery on social media.

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

The presence of water has long been tied to conditions that support life on a planet other than Earth, along with factors such as friendly temperatures and atmosphere.

Scientists involved in the study, the findings of which were published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience, reported that based on readings, hydrated salt appeared to exist on Mars, instead of merely frozen or ancient water.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who chairs the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, hailed the discovery as part of the larger U.S. efforts in space.

“We live in exciting times. Water is one of the most precious resources necessary for a human mission to the Red Planet. The more evidence we find of it, the more encouraged I am for future Mars missions,” Smith said in a statement.

“We continue to learn that Mars is an active planet worthy of further study. Today’s announcement reminds us why we must remain committed to American space leadership and Mars exploration,” he added.