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Mars might have salty ponds next to its underground lake

Published

5 years ago

2020/09/30

(CNN) Two years ago, scientists detected what looked like a salty lake under the surface of Mars’ southern ice cap.

Now, new research has found more evidence of the lake, and also revealed a number of smaller salty “ponds” nearby — raising the possibility there may be life on the Red Planet

In the new study, Italian scientists used the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) instrument on the European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft. The radar covered a larger area of the Martian surface and gathered additional data, allowing the scientists to “confirm the liquid nature of the previously observed lake,” the research team said in a statement.

The scientists were able to gather more specific details about the lake — for instance, they estimate it’s about 30 by 20 kilometers (18.6 by 12.4 miles) in area.

“The presence of a subglacial lake could have important consequences for astrobiology and the presence of habitable niches on Mars,” the statement added.

The study, published Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy, also said the detection of “several other smaller patches of water” was particularly exciting. The ponds — which the study describes as “patchy water pools or wet areas of smaller extent” — are different sizes, and separated from the main lake by strips of dry land.

The discovery is significant because it gives us a better idea of the Mars climate, and chemical makeup. For instance, the fact the lake and its surrounding ponds are still liquid suggest they are “hypersaline,” the study said — meaning they contain lots of salts. This lowers the melting point, preventing the water from freezing despite the cold environment, and may have allowed them to “survive for an extended period of time on a geological scale.”

And, of course, there’s the question of extraterrestrial life.A study last year suggested that 3 to 4 billion years ago, Mars — now cold and inhospitable — may have been warm enough to host pouring rainstorms and flowing water, which would have created an environment that could support simple life. As temperatures dropped later on, the water would freeze. The latest research posits that life on Mars might not just be a thing of the past.

“The possibility of extended hypersaline water bodies on Mars is particularly exciting because of the potential for the existence of microbial life,” the study said. If there really is life in these salty waters, it could take different forms. The scientists speculated there could be anaerobes — tiny organisms that don’t need oxygen — or extremophiles, which can survive in extreme cold or heat.

There could even be aerobes — organisms that require oxygen. Salty brines like the lakes or ponds hold six times the minimal amount of oxygen needed for microbes to breathe, the study said.

“The water bodies at the base of the (south polar layered deposits) therefore represent areas of potential astrobiological interest and planetary protection concern,” the study concluded, urging future Mars missions to target the polar lake region to gather additional data.

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Asset acquisitions from 2009 to 2014: Weerawansa appears in court after HC issues arrest warrant

Published

57 seconds ago

2026/01/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wimal

The Colombo High Court yesterday (14) issued a warrant for the arrest of National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa for failing to appear in court in connection with a case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The court subsequently ordered the recall of the arrest warrant when Weerawansa appeared before the court through his legal counsel. The case pertains to allegations of the unlawful acquisition of assets valued at over Rs. 75 million between January 01, 2009 and December 31, 2014. The CIABOC alleged that Weerawansa had acquired assets amounting to Rs 75 million.

The CIABOC has said that this is an offence punishable under the Asset and Property Act and listed 32 witnesses and 93 articles as evidence.

The charge sheet states that the assets in question include houses, vehicles and money.

The arrest warrant was issued by Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihal.

The judge also directed that notices be served to the defendant’s bail signatories, requiring their presence before the court on the next scheduled hearing.

The CIABOC filed the case in November 2027 during the Yahapalanaya administration.

News

High Posts Committee approves nomination of three Ambassadors and High Commissioner

Published

2 mins ago

2026/01/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

The nominations for the appointments of three new Ambassadors and a new High Commissioner have been approved by the Committee on High Posts of Parliament.

The Committee on High Posts approved the nomination of Dharshana Mahendra Perera as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Malaysia, the nomination of Dassanayake Mudiyanselage Sumith Priyantha Dassanayake as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Dayani Mendis as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Austria, and for the nomination of Samantha Priyadarshana Weerasinghe Pathirana as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Romania.

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CRIB becomes corporate partner of BASL

Published

3 mins ago

2026/01/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka (CRIB) has become the first Corporate Partner of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) for 2026, marking the launch of BASL’s newly introduced Corporate Partner Scheme, the BASL stated.

The text of BASL statement: “The partnership was formalised by signing a Memorandum of Understanding at the BASL Secretariat. The event was attended by Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya, President of BASL; Mr. Pasindu Silva, Treasurer of BASL; Mr. Pushpike Jayasundera, Director/General Manager of CRIB, Mr. Janaka Lakmal, Deputy General Manager of CRIB, and Ms.Saumya Wijesinghe, Manager Legal of CRIB, together with other office-bearers and officials.

BASL represents over 26,000 legal professionals across 93 regional branches, providing a strong platform to engage legal practitioners nationwide. Through this initiative, CRIB and BASL will conduct in-person awareness programmes and webinars, focusing on credit information systems, CRIB’s services, and the Secured Transactions Registry (STR), in line with CRIB’s national campaign “We Care for Your Credit Health.”

Speaking at the event, President BASL Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya stated that the Corporate Partner Scheme reflects BASL’s commitment to reach out to different sectors and collaborate in areas of mutual benefit to the respective organisations.

General Manager of CRIB, Mr. Pushpike Jayasundera noted that CRIB sees this as an important opportunity to enhance understanding in the legal sector of credit information and secured transactions.

The inclusion of CRIB as BASL’s first Corporate Partner underscores BASL’s efforts to support a more informed and future-ready legal profession.”