The mild slopes on the mid-latitudes of Mars were first spotted by the Viking orbiters during the '70s and their composition has eluded the scientific world so far, given the differences in aspect when compared to the surrounding similar features. But recent observations by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) helped a team of researchers led by John Holt from the University of Texas determine that, in fact, they are large buried chunks of ice.

The Sha... (read more)