Flowing liquid water, essential to life, is almost certainly present on Mars, scientists believe.
Experts think water is responsible for mysterious features on Mars that change with the seasons.
A new high resolution technique has revealed gully-like features at four locations, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL), contain salt minerals that precipitate from briny water.
The salts, which are not found in the surrounding terrain, are thought to have been left by water flowing down the sides of hills or crater rims.
Writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, the scientists concluded: "Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that recurring slope lineae form as a result of contemporary water activity on Mars.
"Water is essential to life as we know it. The presence of liquid water on Mars today has astrobiological, geologic and hydrologic implications and may affect future human exploration."
If the discovery is confirmed it has far-reaching implications for the chances of finding life on Mars and future human exploration.
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