science · 3 outlets · 3 linked reports
NASA's Perseverance Finds Most Complex Organic Molecules Yet on Mars
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Summary
- NASA's Perseverance rover detected the most extensive evidence of complex organic molecules on Mars, in rocks from the Bright Angel formation in Jezero Crater.
- Using its SHERLOC instrument, the team made hundreds of detections of macromolecular carbon across an ancient river channel that once fed Jezero's lake.
- Macromolecular carbon can arise from biological or non-biological processes, so the find is not evidence of life.
- Researchers say it strengthens the case that life's building blocks may have been widespread on early Mars; the work appeared in Science Advances.
The question
Perseverance's organic-molecule find strengthens the case that Mars could once have hosted life's building blocks.
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