Italian scientists say they have discovered a lake of liquid water beneath the southern polar ice cap of Mars.<br /> The finding was reported in the journal Science on Wednesday and is the result of radar echoes picked up by an instrument on a spacecraft that has been orbiting the red planet for 15 years.<br />The pool is said to be about 20 kilometers wide and no more than a meter deep. <br />Researchers noted that the lake's ice-cold temperatures and high levels of salt create a harsh environment for any living organism. <br />But they didn't rule out the possibility of life. <br />In order to find out, scientists will have to send a robot that is able to drill through the thick layer of ice that is encapsulating the lake. <br />
