NASA’s Curiosity rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars – the largest organic compounds ever detected on the Red Planet. These molecules, discovered in a rock sample drilled in 2013, offer fresh insights into the potential of Mars to support life.
Scientists have identified three organic molecules – decane, undecane, and dodecane – which contain 10, 11, and 12 carbon atoms respectively. The researchers believe they are remnants of fatty acids, a crucial component in the foundation of life.
Fatty acids play a vital role in cell structure and function on Earth. They help form cell membranes, store energy, and facilitate communication between cells. Detecting these molecules on Mars is significant as it suggests that complex chemistry did occur there.
The discovery was made using NASA’s onboard mini-lab called SAM. The sample came from the rock target “Cumberland” in Gale Crater, where scientists believed an ancient lakebed existed. Further analysis revealed that methane and nitrates were present, which are indicators of potential biological activity.
Researchers have confirmed their findings by recreating the process on Earth using Mars-like clay and heating it to release decane. This suggests that organic molecules can survive Mars’s harsh conditions.
The study has sparked hope for future discoveries as scientists believe that Mars samples could reveal chemical signatures of past life. With each new sample, the debate about life on Mars moves closer to being settled.
The Curiosity rover continues its mission inside Gale Crater, exploring rock layers to better understand Mars’s ancient environments. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) tool remains key to these investigations, and scientists are eager to return Mars samples to Earth to uncover more secrets about the Red Planet’s past.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/mars-curiosity-rover-cumberland-rock-hole-organic-molecules-life-forming-chemistry