Nasa’s Curiosity rover has discovered organic molecules on Mars, including five never before detected on the red planet. The chemicals, found in a dried lakebed near the equator, are considered key building blocks for life as it is known on Earth.
The rover’s analysis cannot confirm whether the compounds originated from ancient microbial life, were delivered by meteorites, or formed through geological processes. However, the finding suggests that if life once existed on Mars, chemical traces could survive to this day.
“We think we’re looking at organic matter that’s been preserved on Mars for 3.5bn years,” said Professor Amy Williams of the University of Florida, who led the research. “Is it life? We can’t tell, based on this information.”
The molecules include benzothiophene, a sulphur-rich compound often associated with meteorites, and a nitrogen-bearing chemical structurally similar to DNA precursors. Professor Andrew Coates of University College London noted that early Mars had all the conditions for life to start, but harsh radiation and extreme cold have made preservation uncertain.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, boost hopes for Europe’s Rosalind Franklin rover, set to launch in 2028, which will drill two metres deep to seek clearer evidence of Mars’ organic history.
