The latest NASA probe data, Mars Odyssey, revealed perplexing results. A substantial amount of water has been discovered close to the surface of Mars, a place that cannot hold water because of the climate on Red Planet. The bewildering results were discovered after the Odyssey’s readings were reanalyzed.

How Odyssey discovered water on Mars

The space probe was sent to Mars in order to find water, and scientists came with a smart method to look for it. Since the orbit of the Red Planet has an altitude of 2.400 miles, the orbiter looked for hydrogen as an indicator for water. Odyssey detected water in 2002, and back then readings indicated that it was restricted to the polar regions.

Reinterpreted results

Planetary scientist Jack Wilson, from Johns Hopkins University was the leader of the team that reevaluated the measurements taken back then. They used a Bayesian method to reconstruct images and made a baffling discovery, there was water in areas that shouldn’t allow it, as high temperature shouldn’t permit buried water there. “It was as though we took the spacecraft and lowered altitude by half, so we saw a few new things on the surface that weren’t visible before,” Jack Wilson declared.

Various hypotheses

The scientists are trying to come up with various explanations for the water discovered there. One theory is that the soil from Red Planet has unique properties that protected the water. Another explanation could be that Mars may have rotated on its axis in the past, millions of years ago, and that made water redistribution possible.

Scientists continue the research and soon we may discover the truth about the buried water on Mars. The future discoveries can affect the future of mankind as some already plan the colonization of Mars.