Salt Water on Mars

In the category of neat science news: Water droplets have collected on NASA's Phoenix Lander located in the Martian arctic region. See photos below:

As the Mars Daily reports:

Salty, liquid water has been detected on a leg of the Mars Phoenix Lander and therefore could be present at other locations on the planet, according to analysis by a group of mission scientists led by a University of Michigan professor. This is the first time liquid water has been detected and photographed outside the Earth.

"A large number of independent physical and thermodynamical evidence shows that saline water may actually be common on Mars," said Nilton Renno, a professor in the U-M Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences and a co-investigator on the Phoenix mission.

"Liquid water is an essential ingredient for life. This discovery has important implications to many areas of planetary exploration, including the habitability of Mars."

We could talk about space policy here, but why not just enjoy the pictures and let our imaginations roam a bit? 

Hat tip to stuartl.