What is the new evidence for water on Mars?

Scientists found new clues that there might have been water on Mars, just like there is water on Earth, and maybe even still today!

Imagine you have a sponge. When it’s wet, it feels squishy. But when it dries out in the sun, it becomes firm and hard. Scientists think that parts of Mars might have been like that sponge.

They looked at pictures from a robot on Mars called Perseverance. It found rocks that look like they were once soaked with water, kind of like how your sponge gets wet when you put it in the sink. Then, maybe the water dried up, and the rocks became hard, just like your sponge after it dries.

Another clue is dust on Mars that looks different near certain rocks. It’s as if someone sprinkled salt on a cake, you can see where the water was before it disappeared. Scientists think this dust came from minerals that form when water evaporates, just like when you leave your glass of water out and it dries up.

So now we know Mars might have had water, and maybe even still has some hidden under the surface, like a secret puddle waiting to be found!