Rivers of hot magma once flowed beneath the surface of Mars. A new scientific study revealed this exciting discovery today.

The finding suggests that Mars was once far more active than experts thought. It also increases the chances that the Red Planet supported ancient alien life.

Researchers from the University of Oxford led the new study.

They carefully analysed data from NASA's InSight lander.

The lander previously recorded seismic waves on Mars. Meteorite impacts and marsquakes caused these underground vibrations.

A complex network beneath the surface

The scientists studied a mysterious layer deep inside the planet.

This boundary sits 15 miles below the rocky Martian surface.

Liquid magma pooled in this area in the distant past. Large underground rivers of molten rock stretched sideways for thousands of miles.

Experts previously thought Mars had simple isolated magma chambers. The new data proves the planet had a complex, connected system; this underground network recycled chemical elements across the entire planet. The process helped build a complex outer crust over time.

New hopes for finding ancient life

This underground activity could create an atmosphere and surface oceans. It also regulated the climate on Mars billions of years ago.

On Earth, shifting tectonic plates control the global climate.

Mars lacks these moving surface plates. Magma movement did the same important job instead.

The study completely changes how scientists view distant rocky planets. Many planets lack moving tectonic plates on their surface.

Experts previously dismissed these worlds as lifeless and cold. Now, scientists believe these planets might actually support living organisms. Mars now offers fresh hope in the search for alien life.