Mars might have HUGE lakes of bitterly cold -48C salt water – but scientists can’t work out if they hide life or not
THE surface of Mars can support liquid brine, a high-concentration solution of salt in water.
This is according to a new study which also suggested that these salty conditions may still not be great for life as we know it.
This isn't good news for Earth-based microorganisms but researchers haven't ruled out alien-life forms being able to survive.
It's also good news for human visitors who don't want to contaminate the planet with Earth microbes.
We already know that pure liquid water can't last on Mars's surface but research suggests added salt could help it stick around.
Nasa has already detected some salts in the Martian soil and now researchers are suggesting these salts could make brine possible.
Water on Mars explained
Almost all that water on Mars exists as ice.
However, there is some water vapour in the atmosphere.
The ice is found at the planets poles although mostly at the north pole.
Nasa has found further evidence of a large amount of ice under Mars' surface.
It is thought that ice played a big role in Mars' geological history.
Mars facts
Here's what you need to know about the red planet...
- Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun
- It is named after the Roman god of war
- The landmass of Mars is very similar to Earth but due to the difference in gravity you could jump three times higher there than you can here
- Mars is mountainous and hosts the tallest mountain known in the Solar System called Olympus Mons, which is three times higher than Everest
- Mars is considered to be the second most habitable planet after Earth
- It takes the planet 687 Earth days to orbit the Sun
- So far, there has been 39 missions to Mars but only 16 of these have been successful
In other space news, a planet found outside our Solar System has yellow skies and 'iron rain'.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Nasa has shared a snap of one of the brightest and more unusual stars in the night sky.
And, an incredible image of glowing Jupiter has been produced by astronomers using a "lucky imaging" technique.
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