World's Saltiest Pond Defies Freezing at -58°C: Don Juan Pond Mystery Unveiled

• Don Juan Pond in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys is the world's saltiest body of water, surpassing even the Dead Sea.
• Despite temperatures plummeting to -58 degrees Celsius, its high salt content (40% calcium chloride) prevents it from freezing.
• Scientists initially believed groundwater fed the pond, but Brown University researchers found moisture absorption from the air (deliquescence) is the primary source.
• Located in one of Earth's driest places, the pond's unique conditions have led scientists to consider the possibility of similar life forms on Mars.
• The pond, discovered in 1961, is only about 4 inches deep but has puzzled researchers for decades due to its extreme salinity and non-freezing nature.