There is evidence that liquid water may have existed on the surface of Mars in the past. However, it is not known if there were ever actual waves of water on Mars like there are on Earth.
The presence of liquid water on Mars is supported by the discovery of features on the planet’s surface that are indicative of past water activity, such as dried-up riverbeds and large areas of smoothed rock that are thought to have been formed by flowing water. There is also evidence of subsurface water in the form of ice on the planet, and it’s possible that liquid water may still exist beneath the Martian surface.
As for now, a new piece of evidence emerges, confirming that Mars was once teeming with liquid water.
Curiosity sheds light again
NASA’s Curiosity rover has made an unexpected discovery on Mars that has left scientists amazed. The rover has been exploring the Red Planet since 2012 and climbing the foothills of Mount Sharp since 2014, which was once believed to be home to lakes and streams that would have supported microbial life. However, when the rover arrived at the sulfate-bearing unit of Mount Sharp, scientists believed they had seen the last evidence of the region’s previous lakes. But, to their surprise, Curiosity sent back images of rippled rock textures, indicating that there was once a shallow lake with waves that stirred up sediment and created the textures over time.
The discovery was made in an area known as the “Marker Band”, meaning a thin layer of dark rock from Mount Sharp. This area has also fascinated scientists due to its rhythmic pattern in rock layers, which may suggest a regular cycle in the weather or climate on Mars, hinting at the complexity of the planet’s ancient climate, much like Earth’s.
While the presence of liquid water on o planet is also a strong hint that life might have existed there as well, nobody has ever found any extraterrestrial organisms on Mars so far.
