The search for life on Mars continues. The first wet chemistry experiment of its kind, published in Nature on Tuesday, confirmed that essential ingredients of life were preserved in ancient Martian rocks. The molecules were found in 3.5 billion-year-old Martian sandstone. NASA’s Curiosity Rover collected the clay-filled rock samples from Glen Torridon in Mars’ massive Gale Crater. The data was analyzed by the rover’s Sample Analysis at Mars mobile instrument suite. This experiment was unique because it was the first study conducted off-Earth to use the chemical tetramethylammoniumhydrxide (TMAH). The reagent is used to allow Curiosity to read the smaller organic molecules that are present on the Martian surface. The data confirmed the presence of naphthalene (one of the largest and complex organic compounds found on Mars) and benzothiophene (another of the largest and complex organic compounds). The experiment also revealed the first detection of possible N-heterocycles on which DNA and RNA is built. NASA”That discovery is quite profound, because these structures could be chemical precursors for more complex nitrogen-bearing molecule,” wrote Amy Williams in NASA’s announcement. “Nitrogen homocycles have not been confirmed on the Martian surfaces or in Martian meteorites.” As with previous discoveries of organic materials on Mars, this isn’t the smoking gun that we’ve been looking for. It adds to the growing body of evidence that at least the foundations of modern life were present on a prehistoric version of the planet. The study confirms that organic matter can survive on Mars for millions of years. This will encourage future experiments. The paper’s authors claim the data will assist NASA to optimize its final (and second) TMAH experiment with Curiosity. The study opens the door for future TMAH experiments on the Rosalind-Franklin Mars rover, and the Dragonfly mission that will visit Saturn’s moon Titan. Both missions are scheduled for 2028 at the earliest.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasas-curiosity-rover-found-promising-organic-chemicals-on-mars-174514375.html?src=rss
