Science Focus
original post »A huge range of data indicates that water has played a key part in the history of Mars, from entire oceans in the distant past, to evidence of lakes and streams at the landing site of the Curiosity rover. But what has not been clear is the role that water plays on the planet now. Hints of water activity have been spotted from orbit, but direct detection of liquid water on the surface has been elusive.
This week, a scientific team using data from the Curiosity rover has announced a bit more indirect evidence. Based on a combination of data about Martian weather and soil conditions, the researchers conclude that salts found on Mars can pull water out of the thin atmosphere and may drive a daily water cycle. While the evidence is indirect, it's consistent with data from a Russian instrument that registers indications of water molecules in the soil.
One of the more common chemicals in the Martian soil appears to be perchlorate salts, which have been detected from orbit and found by the Phoenix lander. These salts—calcium perchlorate in particular—readily form hydrates, where water molecules are integrated into the crystal structure itself to form an energetically favorable conformation. On Earth, this transition is so favorable that the salts can readily pull water out of the air on humid days.
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