Nasa may send humans to Mars

In a press conference a Monday, NASA announced that scientists have discovered liquid water on Mars, bringing scientist one step closer to finding life on the red planet.

“Today we’re revolutionizing our understanding of this planet”, said Jim Green, NASA director of planetary science.

Using data from the MRO and a new analysis technique (imaging spectrometer), scientists detected the presence of hydrated minerals in the mysterious streaks found on slopes.

Photos from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show dark streaks flowing down Martian slopes.

The discovery was made thanks to NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and it marks the first time that a planet outside of our own has the real possibility of hosting microbial life in this water. “But for the most part, I mean even though there’s been a little bit of hope that there might be a few water, you know, accessible to these missions, to find flowing water today is really quite exciting”.

New high-resolution satellite images reveal features on the planet’s surface which change during different seasons, indicating water that flows in a liquid form.

Google is celebrating the discovery with a Doodle, showing the planet Mars enjoying a glass of water.

‘Under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars’.

Why does NASA’s water on mars announcement matter?

The Reccuring slope linae, as the streaks are officially called are formed near the Martian Equator and during periods of warmth, when surface temperatures can reach up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius).

Although the source and the chemistry of the water is unknown, the discovery could affect thinking about whether the planet that is most like Earth in the solar system could support microbial life. The findings strongly support the hypothesis that recurring slope lineae form as a result of contemporary water activity on Mars.

However, it is still not known where the water comes from although there are a number of theories.