HIDDEN lakes on Mars are likely to contain some form of life, a leading expert has claimed. Beneath the frozen deserts of the Red Planet are likely to be pools of water which are home to life, the scientist who first detected liquid water on Mars has claimed. Alfred McEwen, professor of planetary geology at the University of Arizona, says ancient Martian bacteria has likely survived throughout the billions of years beneath the surface. He adds that this microbial life is probably similar to what resides in the harsh conditions of the lakes in Antarctica. Additionally, the bacteria on Mars, if there proves to be any, will help scientists understand how life on Earth began. Speaking at the Starmus festival in Tenerife, Mr McEwen said: The billion-year-old [geological] record of life on Earth is largely lost, but on Mars it's still preserved. "There is probably a connection between life on Mars and life on Earth. "So the search for ancient life on Mars may really be a search for the