A stunning new discovery by a NASA Mars space probe suggests water could exist on the Red Planet.

The Curiosity rover, which is studying the planet's Gale crater, found evidence of brines - traces of a salt called perchlorate near the surface.

The probe is carrying out an in depth study of the planet's atmosphere.

Perchlorate salts lower the freezing temperature of water and can absorb water vapour from the atmosphere to form corrosive brines.

The findings suggest an exchange of water between the Martian atmosphere and the surface.

Professor Javier Martin-Torres, who led the study, said: "This is a significant development that could have a major impact on Mars exploration research.

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