Researchers just discovered evidence to suggest that Mars was once home to oceans and sandy beaches on the red planet, according to data published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Data obtained by the Chinese Zhurong Martian rover has revealed what look like sandy beaches on Mars's northern plains.

The ocean - known as Deuteronilus - would have existed roughly 3.5 to four billion years ago, a time when Mars had a thicker atmosphere and warmer climate, according to scientists.