Nepali Student Lujendra Ojha Spots Possible Water on Mars

Lujendra Ojha, a 21 year old space scientist originally from Kathmandu, Nepal has spotted signs of possible saltwater flow on Mars. Discovery was announced at NASA, the space agency’s headquarters in Washington on 4th August.

Ojha’s recently published study in the Science journal suggests that there is liquid water during warmer seasons on Mars. “Ojha hasn't cracked those mysteries yet, but he did discover something else otherworldly: possible flows of saltwater on Mars”, reports CNN.

The Mars discovery was an independent project of Lujendra Ojha. An undergraduate interne Ojha has done this research under the supervision of Professor Alfred McEwen, a lead co-author of the Science journal, in collaboration with University of Arizona researcher Colin Dundas.

"When I first saw them, I had no idea what it was. I just thought it was a streak made by dust or something similar. It was a lucky accident”, he said reports CNN. “The source of this water could be below the surface, but that has yet to be determined”, Ojha said.

“Ojha had found the first evidence of finger-like features on the slope of the crater that could be liquid briny water on Mars”, said Scientists at NASA.

"There's going to be years of research put into this to even prove that this is definitely a proof of water. And from that, we can move on: OK if this is water, what are the chances that life could be in these kinds of surroundings?" he said.

We are proud of you Lujendra. Keep it up!