Europe’s Mars orbiter has detected water molecules vapourizing from the Red Planet’s south pole, scientists announced today, calling it the most direct evidence yet of water in the form of ice on the Martian surface. The quest for water on Mars – which could indicate life – has fascinated scientists for centuries. Mars watchers have long believed that the planet’s poles contain frozen water, but previous scientific findings – including NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter’s evidence of large amounts of ice – were based more on inferences, European Space Agency scientists said.