Photosynthetic habitable zones' could exist beneath radiation-filtering ice on Mars, offering scientists another region in which to hunt for alien life.

New NASA research suggests that microbes could thrive in meltwater beneath Mars’ frozen surface, offering a potential habitat for life.

A dwarf planet near Mars could help astronomers in their search for alien life, as more research has been done into its abundance of organic matter. The planet, named Ceres, lies in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Microbial alien life could be found inside ice on the surface of Mars, according to a new study. It is almost certainly impossible to live on the surface of Mars. It is hit by high levels of ultraviolet radiation that would be harmful to anything that tried to survive there.

While actual evidence for life on Mars has never been found, a new NASA study proposes microbes could find a potential home beneath frozen water on the planet's surface.

"Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a protective ozone shield, so there is 30 percent more harmful ultraviolet radiation at the surface," said researcher Aditya Khuller.

Pockets of ice on Mars could shield living organisms from radiation that is lethal at the surface, while allowing through enough light to provide the energy to grow and reproduce, a team of astrobiologists claim.