Water 'Widespread' on Early Mars Water was once widespread on Mars, data from a Nasa spacecraft shows, raising the prospect that the Red Planet could have supported life.

Researchers found evidence of vast lakes, flowing rivers and deltas on early Mars, all of which were potential habitats for microbes.They also discovered that wet conditions probably persisted for a long time on the Red Planet.

It wasn't this hot, boiling cauldron. It was a benign, water-rich environment for a long period of time.