C'è un grande lago di acqua liquida e salata a un chilometro e mezzo sotto i ghiacci del Polo Sud di Marte: lo ha scoperto un gruppo di ricercatori italiani grazie al radar Marsis a bordo della sonda Mars Express. La notizia è stata pubblicata sulla rivista Science.
Uno scatto che ricostruisce la scoperta
Il lago sotterraneo di forma triangolare ha tutti i requisiti per ospitare la vita. Esiste da molto tempo, ha acqua liquida, sali ed è protetto dai raggi cosmici: questi, dicono gli autori della ricerca, sono elementi che potrebbero far pensare anche a una nicchia biologica.
Veduta di Marte dalla sonda Curiosity
NASA 25.07.2018, 18:43
I dati raccolti dal radar Marsis fra maggio 2012 e dicembre 2015 mostrano che si tratta di una massa d'acqua stabile. Il lago potrebbe dunque non essere l'unico: secondo i ricercatori potrebbero essercene altri e, adesso che sanno come cercarli, continueranno a farlo.
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