NASA’s Perseverance rover has found a glut of organic molecules on Mars, as well as other materials that make the dry river delta it is now exploring perfect for hunting for signs of life
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
NASA’s Perseverance rover is exploring a long-dry river delta on Mars, and it has seen signs that indicate that the region is full of organics – molecules containing carbon that are widely considered to be the building blocks of life.layered sedimentary rocks , some of which contain materials that were most likely transported from hundreds of kilometres away by running water billions of years ago. The goal was to look at areas similar to those on Earth that harbour signs of ancient life, he said.
“With the samples we’re taking now in this more sedimentary area, we’re of course right at the heart of what we wanted to do to start with,” said NASA science leadThese sedimentary rocks contain complex organic molecules called aromatics, as well as clays and sulphate minerals, which can be produced when water interacts with rocks.
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