Chinese Rover said to Find Evidence of Martian Ocean, Beaches

China’sZhurong rover reportedly uncovered evidence beneath Mars’ surface that appears to be ancient sandy beaches, hinting at the remnants of a vast ocean shoreline. Using ground-penetrating radar, the rover revealed layers of sand-like material buried 10–35 meters (33–115 feet) deep, arranged in a uniform slope reminiscent of Earth’s coastal deposits. Scientists believe these features mark the former edge of an ocean—dubbed Deuteronilus—that existed around 3.5 to 4 billion years ago. At that time, Mars boasted a thicker atmosphere and warmer climate, conditions that may have supported vast bodies of liquid water capable of fostering life, much like early Earth’s primordial seas.

Between May 2021 and May 2022, Zhurong journeyed about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) through terrain that exhibits hints of an ancient shoreline. Its high-frequency radar, capable of probing up to 80 meters (260 feet) below the surface, detected continuous layers of sediment that stretch over 1.2 km along its route. “Even though Mars’ surface has transformed dramatically over billions of years, our radar data has provided direct evidence of coastal deposits that aren’t visible on the surface,” said Hai Liu, a planetary scientist with Guangzhou University and a member of the Tianwen-1 mission team.

On Earth, similar beach formations take