Mars probe makes ‘ice’ discovery

Nasa's Phoenix spacecraft has unearthed "perfect" evidence of ice in the soil around its landing site on Mars.

Chunks of a bright material found in a trench dug by the craft have disappeared over four Martian days, suggesting they have vapourised.

While digging in another trench, the lander's arm connected with a hard surface at the same depth.

The finds lend weight to suggestions water is locked up in a permafrost layer close to the planet's surface.

"These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice," - Dr Peter Smith, Phoenix's principal investigator