Nasa's Curiosity Mars Rover has discovered the largest organic (carbon -containing) molecules ever on the red planet. The discovery is one of the most important findings in the search for proof of the past living on Mars. This is because, at least on earth, relatively complex carbon molecules with long chains are involved in biology. These molecules can actually be fragments of fatty acids that are found in the membranes around organic cells, for example.
Scientists think that if life ever came to Mars, it was probably microbial in nature. Because microbes are so small, it is difficult to be definitive about possible evidence for life on Mars. Such evidence needs more powerful scientific instruments that are too large to be put on a robber.
The organic molecules found by curiosity consists of carbon atoms coupled in long chains, with other elements that are bound to them, such as hydrogen and oxygen. They come from a 3.7 million-year-old rock called Cumberland, met by the Rover at an assumed dried-up lake in Mars' Gale Crater. Scientists used the sample analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on NASA Rover to make their discovery.
Scientists were actually looking for proof of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and therefore important components of life as we know them. But this unexpected finding is almost as exciting. The research is published in Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.
Among the molecules, dean, which has 10 carbon atoms and 22 hydrogen atoms and dodecan, with 12 carbon atoms and 26 hydrogen atoms. These are known as alkanes, which fall under the umbrella of the chemical compounds that are known as hydrocarbons.
It is an exciting time in the search for life on Mars. In March of this year, scientists presented proof of characteristics in another rock that were sampled on Mars on Mars elsewhere by the perseverance. These characteristics, called “Leopard Spots” and “Poppy Seeds”, could have been produced by the functioning of microbial life in the distant past, or not. The findings were presented at an American conference and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed magazine.
