NASA’s Curiosity rover has made a significant discovery on Mars, finding the largest carbon-based molecules ever seen on the Red Planet. The long-chain alkanes were likely formed from fatty acids, which are essential for life as we know it. However, scientists caution that these molecules could have also been created through chemical processes without any biological involvement.
The discovery was made in a 3.7-billion-year-old rock and provides hope that if microbial life once existed on Mars, signs of it might still be present. The finding is another step in the search for past habitability on the planet.
In other news, paleontologists have uncovered a massive dinosaur claw belonging to a new species of therizinosaur. The specimen was discovered in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and features a protective covering on one of its fingers that adds length and creates a talon nearly a foot long.
Sharks, known for their stealth, have been found making clicking noises using the “forceful snapping” of their teeth. Researchers suspect this is a form of communication, but further research is needed to confirm this theory.
Additionally, cuttlefish have been observed using visual tricks to mesmerize their prey. A group of researchers published a study on different visual displays used by one cuttlefish species, which seem to overwhelm the senses of potential prey animals.
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/the-sounds-of-sharks-meaning-behind-mars-molecule-and-federal-cuts-to