![\"Mysterious](\"https:\/\/www.regionalpuebla.mx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Misteriosos-reflejos-en-Marte-pueden-provenir-de-algo-mas-extrano.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn Earth<\/u>, dazzling reflections like this often come from liquid water. For example, subglacial lakes like Antarctica’s Lake Vostok, which has been lying under more than 2 miles (3 kilometers) of ice for millions of years, causes a bright radar signal like that found on Mars<\/u>. However, just because it’s possible for something like this to have also occurred on Mars doesn’t guarantee the presence of liquid water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The research team used radar data from MARSIS, along with computer simulations, to investigate this mystery. The scientists simulated layers of ice and other substances, like basalt rock that formed after ancient volcanic eruptions on Mars, to see how these materials would react to incoming light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because there is an immense amount of carbon dioxide frozen in the Martian south pole, Cornell University planetary scientist and lead author of the research Dan Lalich was sure to include layers of this ice in the simulations. And one simulation in particular, with a layer of carbon dioxide ice and below the water ice, revealed that the separation and thickness of layers determined the strength of a reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Previous studies Lalich worked on also found that certain minerals could also conjure a reflection like this. He believes that even layers of the Red Planet’s dust-obscured ice are capable of it. Either way, no liquid water is necessary to create the reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00abI could have used rock layers or even particularly dusty water ice and I would have gotten similar results,\u00bb he said in a statement<\/u>. \u00abThe point of this paper is really that the composition of the basal layers is less important than the layer thicknesses and separations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new research doesn’t mean that there is no chance of liquid water existing somewhere on Mars, however. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00abNone of the work we\u2019ve done disproves the possible existence of liquid water down there,\u00bb Lalich said. \u00abWe just think the interference hypothesis is more consistent with other observations. I’m not sure anything short of a drill could prove either side of this debate definitively right or wrong.\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether under a glacier or deep beneath the planet’s scorched reddish surface, water \u2014 and possibly traces of life or \u2014 may still be lurking somewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source: SPACE.COM<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n