New study suggests hot water may have existed on Mars billions of years ago

New research from a Martian meteorite known as "Black Beauty" suggests that hot water may have existed on Mars 4.45 billion years ago. This finding indicates that the planet could have supported life earlier than previously thought. The study, conducted by Curtin University scientists, identified specific elements in a zircon grain within the meteorite. These elements, including iron and sodium, suggest that water was present during early volcanic activity on Mars. Previously, evidence indicated that liquid water existed on Mars around 4.1 billion years ago. This new research implies that water may have been present even earlier, during the planet's pre-Noachian period.