Most Powerful Mars Water Clue Yet

Nasa's Mars mission Opportunity has found the strongest clue to date that hints at water activity on the planet.

The rover has found flakes of what looks like gypsum or calcium sulphate, which if confirmed would be the most powerful water clue found till yet.

For lead scientist Steve Squyres, a researcher from Cornell University, the find "is the single most powerful piece of evidence for liquid water at Mars that has been discovered by the Opportunity rover," which leaves behind no ambiguity seeing that the "gypsum was precipitated from the water" that flowed through a fracture in the rock and was therefore "formed right here".

The rover was put on the planet on 25 January 2004 and has since been up and running, despite glitches and worn mechanisms, exceeding everyone's expectations.