Mars: Evidence of Ancient Oceans and Habitable Conditions

Recent discoveries by China's Zhurong rover suggest that Mars once boasted sandy beaches and oceans, supporting the theory of a habitable past. Geological evidence from various missions, including Curiosity and Perseverance, highlights the presence of liquid water and river sediments, indicating a once vibrant environment.

The Tharsis region's rotation shift and atmospheric loss over time rendered Mars inhospitable. Radar data revealed buried deposits from the ancient Deuteronilus ocean, dating back approximately 3.5 to 4 billion years, with indications of a thicker atmosphere and warmer climate.

While this ocean disappeared around one billion years ago, significant water may still be trapped beneath the surface, as shown by NASA's InSight lander. This research reinforces earlier Viking probe findings of irregular coastlines, suggesting a primordial ocean that potentially harbored early life.

Overall, the evidence points to a once-warm and moist Martian climate, raising intriguing possibilities about our neighboring planet's history.