Tue Feb 25 08:16:53 UTC 2025: ## China’s Zhurong Rover Uncovers Evidence of Ancient Martian Ocean
**Bengaluru, India** – New data from China’s Zhurong rover has provided compelling evidence of a vast ocean that may have existed on Mars billions of years ago. Ground-penetrating radar detected subsurface layers resembling sandy beaches, suggesting a shoreline for a body of water known as Deuteronilus.
The findings, published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, were obtained during the rover’s operation between May 2021 and May 2022. The radar penetrated up to 80 meters below the surface, revealing layered material consistent with beach deposits spanning 1.2 kilometers. Researchers believe these formations, similar to those found on Earth, formed over millions of years through wave action, indicating a large and long-lasting ocean.
“By using ground-penetrating radar, we found direct evidence of coastal deposits that weren’t visible from the surface,” explained Hai Liu, a planetary scientist at Guangzhou University and member of the Tianwen-1 mission science team. The researchers ruled out alternative explanations such as wind-blown dunes or ancient riverbeds.
The existence of Deuteronilus, estimated to have existed 3.5 to 4 billion years ago, supports the theory that Mars once possessed a thicker atmosphere and warmer climate, potentially capable of supporting life. The discovery adds to previous evidence suggesting a significant reservoir of water may exist deep beneath the Martian surface.
“Shorelines are great locations to look for evidence of past life,” noted study co-author Michael Manga of the University of California, Berkeley. The well-preserved nature of the buried structures offers a unique opportunity for further research into Mars’ ancient past and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
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