Chinese scientists revealed this week that Mars may have sustained liquid water 750 million years longer than previously estimated, based on new analysis of data from the Zhurong rover's historic mission. The findings, published in the National Science Review, challenge existing theories about the red planet's geological evolution.
Since landing in Utopia Planitia in May 2021, the six-wheeled explorer has transmitted critical data showing uniform sedimentary layers beneath Mars' surface – evidence of sustained aquatic activity during the middle-late Amazonian Period approximately 750 million years ago. The discovery was made using Zhurong's advanced quad-polarized ground-penetrating radar system, which created subsurface maps akin to medical CT scans.
'This isn't just about finding ancient water,' said lead researcher Liu Yike from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 'The centimeter-scale sediment patterns we've observed suggest stable shallow water environments existed during what we thought was Mars' completely dry phase.'
The findings carry significant implications for understanding planetary climate change and potential ancient microbial habitats. While Zhurong stopped transmitting in May 2022 after traveling nearly two kilometers, its data continues reshaping our understanding of Martian history through ongoing analysis by international research teams.
