We're reading, hearing and talking about Mars lately for a couple of down-to-earth reasons: A space thriller in theaters called "The Martian" and news from America's space agency about evidence suggesting water flows on that planet. NASA's recent announcement appears timed to piggyback on the fresh interest in Mars, a planned destination for astronauts in 15 years or more. The discovery is the latest of many breakthroughs by NASA's Mars missions.

The new finding comes via an unmanned craft called Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Images transmitted to NASA show streaks on the surface that darken and appear to flow down steep slopes during warm seasons, and then fade in cooler seasons. They show up in several locations on Mars and are considered the strongest evidence yet that liquid water sometimes flows there. Even though the liquid is believed to be salty, it raises the possibility of microscopic life. "The more we study Mars, the more we learn how life could be supported and where there are resources to support life in the future," says Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program.

NASA, which needs pubic and congressional support to turn plans into launches, is closely involved with development and promotion of "The Martian," starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded alone on the planet in the year 2035. With only meager supplies, he uses ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and signal that he survived a fierce storm. "They're petty happy with the movie because it will increase public interest," says Andy Weir, a California software engineer who wrote a novel on which the film is based. The space agency offered technical advice and hosted actors, producers and set designers at its Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif. NASA also screened the drama for employees and hosted its stars at events in Houston and Cape Canaveral, Fla. Tweets from NASA compare its technology to what moviegoers see and an Oct. 2 blog post says: "'The Martian' movie is set 20 years in the future, but here at NASA we are already developing many of the technologies that appear in the film. The movie takes the work we're doing and extends it into fiction." Videos on the agency's website, including the one below, reinforce that message.

Astronaut says: "Our quest on Mars has been to follow the water in our search for life in the universe, and now we have convincing science that validates what we've long suspected." – John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator

Journalist says: "NASA's hype around the discovery of liquid water on Mars can be explained by its constant need to increase funding for its work." -- Akshat Rathi, London reporter for Quartz, a web news site

Actor says: "The journey to Mars will forever change our history books, rewriting what we know about the red planet and expanding a human presence deeper into the solar system." – Matt Damon