Without boots or machinery on the ground, it’s hard to tell what is a cave entrance, and what is simply a hole
A MYSTERIOUS hole on Mars could be harbouring alien life in an extensive network of underground tunnels, according to Nasa.
From orbit, scientists have captured a deep pit on the Red Planet that looks like it leads underground.
The image, titled “An unusual hole in Mars,” shows a pockmarked planet that could be hiding tons of subterranean pockets.
“There are numerous holes pictured in this Swiss cheese-like landscape, with all-but-one of them showing a dusty, dark, Martian terrain beneath evaporating, light, carbon dioxide ice,” Nasa wrote.
“The most unusual hole is on the upper right, spans about 100 meters, and seems to punch through to a lower level.”
It’s unclear what caused the hole.
Though scientists assume the circular crater that surrounds it suggests it was created by a meteor impact.
“Holes such as this are of particular interest because they might be portals to lower levels that extend into expansive underground caves,” Nasa explained.
“If so, these naturally occurring tunnels are relatively protected from the harsh surface of Mars, making them relatively good candidates to contain Martian life.
“These pits are therefore also prime targets for possible future spacecraft, robots, and even human interplanetary explorers.”
Mars has an incredibly hostile environment compared to Earth.
It fluctuates between extreme temperatures, and has a surface level radiation that would be incredibly harmful to humans.
That’s why Nasa is considering underground habitation for its future human explorers.
While humans will struggle to withstand such hazards, so will other organic life.
Martian caves may be some of the few locations humans can reach that have preserved evidence of whether life ever existed on Mars.
Nasa’s Mars Global Cave Candidate Catalogue has been keeping track of all the possible caves on Mars, with over 1,000 candidates having been discovered.
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/tech/14030105/nasa-mysterious-hole-cave-tunnels-aliens-human-colonists/
