Scientists have discovered a reservoir of liquid water on Mars - deep in the rocky outer crust of the planet.

The findings come from a new analysis of data from Nasa’s Mars Insight Lander, which touched down on the planet back in 2018.

The lander carried a seismometer, which recorded four years’ of vibrations - Mars quakes - from deep inside the Red Planet.

Analysing those quakes - and exactly how the planet moves - revealed “seismic signals” of liquid water.

  • Pennomi
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    1029 days ago

    Would a deeper hole be easier to create on Mars due to the lower planetary mass? I would assume so.

    • themeatbridge
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      3029 days ago

      Yeah, but the drill bit would need to be 140 million miles long just to reach Mars.

      • @3ntranced
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        429 days ago

        Nah just a 10 mile long pole, strong enough to break through planetary geological plates in a straight on blow, thrown really really really fast from earth.

        • @turmacar
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          228 days ago

          If you don’t care how long it takes to get there and can effectively use the ITN you don’t even need to leave going that fast.

          • @3ntranced
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            228 days ago

            Side thought, all I can think of now is developing the technology to accelerate the rotation of some of these ITN “slingshot” planets to speeds where they become giant versions of those hotwheels motorized launcher tracks.

    • @AstridWipenaugh
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      629 days ago

      IIRC the problem was the ambient temp that deep being too hot causing mechanical failures. It’s hard to dispose of waste heat when you have to pump it miles away.

      • @[email protected]
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        328 days ago

        You could probably drill much deeper into Mars before encountering that issue, though, since its molten rock is significantly deeper than Earth’s.