Ice found on Mars

20 June 2008 | 12:55 - By Miguel D'Souza

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The NASA Phoenix Mars Lander probe has confirmed a finding that is set to change current thinking on the red planet.

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NASA has reported that 'dice-sized' pieces of ice have been found on Mars.

"Dice-size crumbs of bright material have vanished from inside a trench where they were photographed by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander four days ago," NASA reported. The disappearance has convinced scientists that the material was frozen water that vaporised after digging exposed it.

"It must be ice," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith.

"These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice. There had been some question whether the bright material was salt. Salt can't do that," said Mr Smith.

Mars has long the subject of discussion amongst conspiracy theorists, space nuts and Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) enthusiasts.

The chunks were left at the bottom of a trench informally called "Dodo-Goldilocks" when Phoenix's Robotic Arm enlarged that trench on June 15, during the 20th Martian day, or sol, since landing.

These were gone when Phoenix looked at the trench overnight, US time.

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