Space

Study: Mars May Harbor Vast Underground Water Reservoir

MAY 13 2025·Updated MAY 14 2025

#Space

Study: Mars May Harbor Vast Underground Water Reservoir

Story

Above: Orbital view of the Olympus Mons volcano on Mars, the largest known volcano in the solar system. Image credit: Corbis Historical via Getty Images

The Facts

Scientists analyzing data from NASA's InSight lander have detected evidence of liquid water between 5.4-8 kilometers (3.4-5 miles) beneath Mars' surface, according to research published in National Science Review on April 25.
Live Science
Space
Academic
The research team used seismic waves from two meteorite impacts in 2021 and a marsquake in 2022 to identify a layer where waves slowed down significantly, suggesting the presence of water-saturated rock.
Space
The Conversation
The discovered water layer could hold enough liquid to cover Mars in a global ocean 520-780 meters (1,706-2559 feet) deep, matching estimates of the planet's "missing" water from its ancient wet period billions of years ago.
The Conversation
South China Morning Post
The study was conducted by an international team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Australian National University, and University of Milano-Bicocca, using a technique called "receiver functions" adapted from oil exploration.
Mashable India
Space
This potential water reservoir exists at depths where temperatures would remain above the freezing point, allowing there to be liquid water within porous rocks similar to Earth's aquifers.
Live Science
The Conversation
Academic
The findings are based on data from a single location near Mars' equator at Elysium Planitia, where the InSight lander operated from 2018 to 2022, and may not represent conditions across the entire planet.
Live Science
Space

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The discovery represents a groundbreaking development in Mars exploration, potentially solving the long-standing mystery of the planet's missing ancient water. This underground reservoir could provide essential resources for future human missions and dramatically increase the possibility of finding microbial life, as similar water-filled rock environments on Earth harbor thriving ecosystems.

Live Science

The Conversation

Narrative B

The interpretation of seismic data remains uncertain, as the observed slow-velocity layer could be explained by other factors such as different rock compositions or increased porosity without water. Additionally, accessing water at such depths would require unprecedented drilling capabilities far beyond current technology, making practical utilization extremely challenging.