Carl Segan once said, “The universe is a pretty big place. If it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space.” And time after time the universe sends signals which make us question whether we are alone in the vastness of space, or there are other species on some other spherical place where life is actually happening. And allegedly NASA thinks they have an answer for this question.
The American space agency has sparked excitement and speculation after revealing a mysterious, massive hole on the Martian surface that could potentially lead to an underground world — and even harbor alien life.
The intriguing discovery was featured as part of NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day series. The image, taken by a satellite orbiting Mars, shows a cratered landscape resembling Swiss cheese, punctuated by an unusual opening that spans approximately 328 feet (100 meters). It is located in the upper-right portion of the satellite image.
“Actually, there are numerous holes pictured in this Swiss cheese-like landscape, with all-but-one of them showing a dusty, dark, Martian terrain beneath evaporating, light, carbon dioxide ice,” NASA wrote. “The most unusual hole is on the upper right, spans about 100 meters, and seems to punch through to a lower level. Why this hole exists and why it is surrounded by a circular crater remains a topic of speculation, although a leading hypothesis is that it was created by a meteor impact.”
The agency further explained the potential significance of this unusual feature, adding: “Holes such as this are of particular interest because they might be portals to lower levels that extend into expansive underground caves. If so, these naturally occurring tunnels are relatively protected from the harsh surface of Mars, making them relatively good candidates to contain Martian life. These pits are therefore also prime targets for possible future spacecraft, robots, and even human interplanetary explorers.”
A Gateway to Life?
While the surface of Mars is a hostile environment — battered by solar and cosmic radiation due to the planet’s thin atmosphere and weak magnetic field — scientists believe that life may still be hiding underground. The possibility that lava tubes or deep caves could provide natural shielding has long intrigued researchers.
“Mars was once more Earth-like billions of years ago,” NASA has stated, suggesting that these ancient, sheltered areas may be the last refuge of Martian life — or perhaps even its fossils.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Science Center added weight to this theory in 2019 when it mapped over 1,000 potential cave entrances on the Red Planet. According to space scientist Glen Cushing, "It is impossible to see how far any of them extend beneath the surface." NASA and other space agencies are now eyeing these Martian pits as prime candidates for future exploration. Rovers, autonomous drones, and eventually astronauts may one day delve into these mysterious underground realms in search of signs of life.