'This could be a portal': Scientists stunned by a gaping Martian pit
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Credit: NASA
Martian hole
A 100-metre-wide pit on Mars captured by NASA has scientists speculating it could lead to subsurface caves—and possibly, alien life.
Credit: NASA
Hidden caves
Experts believe natural tunnels under Mars’ crust might shelter life from harsh surface radiation and freezing temperatures.
Impact origin
Though its formation is unclear, one theory suggests the hole may have been caused by a meteor strike that cracked the surface.
Life shelter
These underground caves, protected from UV rays and dust storms, could create stable microenvironments ideal for microbial survival.
Representative pic
NASA alert
The image, originally snapped by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, was re-shared by NASA as a major point of interest for exploration.
Prime target
Experts say these pits could be key targets for future missions—robotic, sample-return, or even human expeditions.
Barcelona theory
Scientists at the University of Barcelona have identified Acidalia Planitia as a possible habitat for methane-producing subsurface bacteria.
Deep life
These microbes could live 4.3 to 8.8 kilometres underground, where liquid water, warmth, and energy might still exist.
Drill challenge
Accessing potential life zones remains difficult, as deep drilling on Mars faces extreme engineering and environmental obstacles.