The possibility that there were once oceans and rivers on Mars is fairly well established. Observations suggest that there could have been water on the surface as recently as 2 billion years ago. However, to make sure that scientists don't misinterpret Earth contaminants sent on the rover for something native to Mars, the rover is equipped with so-called witness tubes, which are similar to sample tubes and are all opened at the same time. Mars’ core does not generate this protective shield, and so the planet’s surface conditions are hostile to life.” However, “these are not shallow aquifers,” McEwen said. Karunatillake concurred, noting that these subterranean aquifers may reside miles below the surface. Volcanic outgassing of water vapor from the martian mantle may intermittently replenish these aquifers, Karunatillake said. Any ancient riverbeds of Mars would be long gone, but water may have persisted in other forms into the modern day. The thin atmosphere would mean evaporated liquid water would soon be lost to space, but water could persist if the cold allowed it to freeze solid, or if it was protected underground. Like Earth, the poles of Mars are the coldest regions on the planet. Unlike Earth, temperatures on Mars can plummet to minus 195 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 125 degrees C), according to Space.com.

Afterwards, you will go to the tiny village of Colchani (salt miners' workshops next to the Salt Flats) to visit the factories and see the traditional means of table salt production. You will then be taken to the great Salt Flat of Uyuni (Salar de Uyuni), where you first will see the salt mining, and the piles of salt (pyramids of salt). After this, you will go to see the Eyes of the Salt. These are big holes in the salt flat, from which bursts out water at high pressure (this water comes from beneath this dead lake).

The difference between the two cores may explain why Earth became a thriving oasis of life and Mars became a barren rusty wasteland, the scientists speculate.

The Red Planet has been a target for investigations over many centuries. No planet has been so heavily explored, other than our own, according to NASA. The team obtained the first-ever elastic data of the core as well as improving on knowledge of the chemical composition and size of the core. They found that a fifth of the Martian core is made of light elements, a higher proportion than Earth. As a result, the core is not as dense as earth's which is made of a higher percentage of iron. For water to be a liquid at these temperatures, it would have to be salty, almost a brine. But could such a briny salt water also allow liquid water to appear on the surface? All of the tours of the Salar de Uyuni start in Uyuni. The tours will not include your transfer from La Paz; you will need to organise and pay for this separately. The buses to Uyuni are overnight, departing from La Paz every evening, and arriving into Uyuni the next day at about 7:00am. You are able to start a tour on the same morning, as tours start from 10:00am. We recommend the bus company Todo Turismo, as it is the most well-known among travellers. Dive into this stunning map of different regions on the Red Planet, courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.Place ingredients with 10 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and allow to steep at least two hours, preferably overnight. Hamad looks at the sky and points to the distance. Haboob, he says. Bright sky, twinkling stars. I see nothing that points to a sandstorm. But the Bedouins read the sky and sand. Maybe he is right, I think, while I pull the blanket over my head.

It takes approximately 15 - 20 minutes from the Airport to the Red Planet office. You can take a taxi and it can cost between 10 Bs to 20 Bs approx. The sequel to ‘Knives Out’ has become one of the most watched movies this Christmas on streaming platforms. The comedy starring Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, Edward Norton or Kate Hudson is full of mystery, tangles and funny gags of all kinds. I t also features cameos by Serena Williams, Hugh Grant, Angela Lansbury, Jared Leto and Jeremy Renner, among others. Although the latter two appear in a more peculiar way: with products of their own brand. Jared Leto with a brand of hard kombucha, while Renner appears in the brand of a hot sauce.

About one-fifth of Mars was once underwater, raising the prospects for life.

It is fine to visit the area when there is a certain amount of water, but when it becomes too deep (after long, sustained periods of rainfall in consecutive days) some places can become inaccessible, such as Isla Incahuasi. These must then be omitted from the tours, but we can usually continue visiting other parts of the salt flats. Also, the area to the south (with the coloured lakes, geysers, hot springs etc) is usually not affected, so tours are not cancelled completely. In the 19th century, Mars was investigated by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelliand American astronomer Percival Lowell, who believed they saw long canals on the planet's surface indicating civilizations and life. Their claims were dismissed by others in their time and ultimately turned out to be incorrect. Following this volcanic visit, you will go down the hill to our shelter point, "Efames" to spend the second night (basic accommodation). Hot chocolate or coffee and a delicious dinner will be waiting for you when you arrive. After your meal, you can drink a glass of wine in the darkness, and watch the stars. If you fancy a dip, the hot springs are just 100 meters from the shelter. This is nice clean water, and 35 Cº, so don’t forget your swimsuit. Although our assets in orbit around Mars haven’t found any subterranean aquifers, there’s a sneaking suspicion we’re only seeing the upper kilometer or so, because radar’s a challenge,” Meyer said. It's a harsh life for these desert flowers, but they still manage to survive in Wadi Rum. Frits Meyst / WideOyster.com