Longest Organic Molecules Discovered on Mars!

03/24/2025 Space Exploration

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified the longest organic molecules ever found on Mars, igniting excitement in the search for extraterrestrial life. These molecules, containing up to 12 carbon atoms, are approximately 3.7 billion years old, dating back to the same period as the earliest signs of life on Earth.

Ancient Building Blocks of Life

The presence of these carbon chains, preserved for billions of years, suggests that the building blocks necessary for life may have existed on Mars. While this discovery doesn't confirm past or present life, it indicates that Mars may have once had the conditions to support it.

Daniel Glavin, a NASA scientist, highlights that the origin of these molecules remains uncertain. They could have formed through geological processes, arrived via meteorites, or be remnants of ancient Martian biology.

Curiosity's Continued Exploration

The findings were made using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) laboratory aboard the Curiosity rover. Curiosity's ongoing exploration continues to provide valuable insights into Mars' ancient environment. Future missions like ESA’s ExoMars and the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return mission will further investigate the potential for past life on Mars.

The discovery of these long-chain hydrocarbons supports the current strategy of searching for ancient signs of life on Mars that share characteristics with life on Earth.

While liquid water once existed on Mars, the search for signs of primordial life continues. The Perseverance rover's discovery of preserved organic molecules in 2023, along with these recent findings, offer encouraging indicators that the conditions for life once existed on the Red Planet.

Looking ahead, similar instruments will be used on missions like Dragonfly, exploring Saturn's moon Titan, expanding the search for life beyond Mars.