dailyloe.com – NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has discovered new organic molecules in a rock sample it drilled in 2020. The sample contains the most diverse collection of organic molecules ever found on the Red Planet. Scientists identified 21 carbon-containing molecules in total. Seven of these molecules were detected on Mars for the very first time.
The findings are detailed in a new paper published in Nature Communications. The rock sample is nicknamed ‘Mary Anning 3’ after an English fossil collector. It was collected from a part of Mount Sharp. This area was covered by lakes and streams billions of years ago.
This ancient oasis surged and dried up multiple times. The process eventually enriched the area with clay minerals. Clay minerals are especially good at preserving organic compounds. Organic compounds are carbon-containing molecules found throughout the solar system.
They are the building blocks of life. Scientists do not know if the molecules were created by biology or geology. Either path remains a possibility. The discovery confirms ancient Mars had the right chemistry for life.
The molecules join a list of compounds preserved in rocks. They have survived billions of years of exposure to Martian radiation. Radiation can break down such molecules over time. This preservation is significant for future study.
Among the newly identified molecules is a nitrogen heterocycle. This is a ring of carbon atoms that includes nitrogen. This molecular structure is considered a predecessor to RNA and DNA. RNA and DNA are two key nucleic acids for genetic information.
‘That detection is pretty profound,’ said lead author Amy Williams. She noted these structures can be chemical precursors. They could lead to more complex nitrogen-bearing molecules. The research involved years of extensive laboratory work.
The sample was drilled from a spot nicknamed ‘Mary Anning.’ Curiosity took a selfie there on October 25, 2020. The rover’s Mastcam captured a mosaic of the clay-bearing region on February 3, 2019. The region formed when lakes and streams were present.
