{
  "abstract": "This paper presents a conceptual model exploring how liquid water could be maintained in direct contact with hypothetical microorganisms during warm daytime periods on Mars. Hygroscopic surface salts (e.g., NaCl, CaCl$_2$, Ca(ClO$_4$)$_2$, gypsum, MgSO$_4$) can absorb water vapor and form liquid solutions; however, daytime exposure normally causes rapid drying. We propose a mechanism where diurnal temperature fluctuations drive thermal expansion and contraction cycles that open and close micro-cracks in salt crystals. Nighttime-condensed deliquescent liquid penetrates these fractures, which then partially close during warmer daytime hours, trapping liquid water inside and preventing immediate evaporation. Thermally induced volume changes (ranging from ~0.5-0.9% in crystalline phases up to several percent in concentrated solutions) support the feasibility of this cyclic aperture dynamic. Modeling deliquescence and salt distribution indicates that nighttime microscopic liquid can form for ~100-130 sols per Martian year near Acidalia Planitia. At depths of 2-3 mm within soil or salt structures, hypothetical microorganisms would gain partial UV shielding while retaining access to visible light. Overall, internal crystal micro-fractures may offer transient daytime liquid microenvironments, highlighting these locations as potential candidate habitats for photosynthetic life on modern Mars.This study serves as a conceptual feasibility analysis for near-surface brine retention within hygroscopic salt structures under present-day Martian conditions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "Journal reference: Icarus, 2026, Volume 460, 117273",
  "arxiv": "2609.01156",
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Anna Bognar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bernadett D. Pal"
    },
    {
      "name": "Akos Kereszturi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/18e0awqtnm2y5.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.01156",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "18e0awqtnm2y5",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.01156",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.EP"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.01156",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/18e0awqtnm2y5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:00Z",
      "native_id": "2609.01156",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.01156"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.EP",
      "subfield": "planetary"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Current water trapping micro-habitats on the surface of Mars",
  "title_text": "Current water trapping micro-habitats on the surface of Mars",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:00Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/18e0awqtnm2y5",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117273",
      "pid": null,
      "relation": "published-as",
      "title": null,
      "venue": null
    }
  ]
}