New research using data from NASA’s Mars InSight lander has revealed substantial amounts of liquid water deep below the Martian surface. This study, which analyzed seismic data collected over four years, offers new insights into the planet’s potential to harbor life and the fate of its ancient oceans.

The InSight lander, active since 2018, has been measuring seismic waves to understand the subsurface materials on Mars. The latest findings indicate that significant reservoirs of liquid water are likely located between 11.5 and 20 kilometers below the surface.

Vashan Wright from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego stated, “The discovery is significant because water is fundamental for life. If our interpretations are correct, the Martian subsurface holds the necessary ingredients for microbial life, akin to what we find deep within Earth’s crust.”

The study suggests that the amount of liquid water found could be greater than the volume of water once thought to exist in ancient Martian oceans. Wright added, “Just as groundwater infiltrates from the surface to deeper layers on Earth, we expect a similar process on Mars when its upper crust was warmer.”

While direct exploration of this deep water is not yet feasible, the research points to important implications for understanding Mars’ water cycle, the potential for past or present life, and planning future missions. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also includes contributions from Matthias Morzfeld and Michael Manga.

Wright expressed hope for public engagement with the findings, remarking, “I’m inspired by these results and hope the public is too. It highlights the power of collaborative efforts in advancing our knowledge of other planets.”