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NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered ancient organic molecules on Mars. That plus the methane is strongly suggesting that life may have existed on Mars back when liquid water existed on the surface.
NASA's Curiosity rover has found new evidence preserved in rocks on Mars that suggests the planet could have supported ancient life, as well as new evidence in the Martian atmosphere that relates to the search for current life on the Red Planet. While not necessarily evidence of life itself, these findings are a good sign for future missions exploring the planet's surface and subsurface.
The new findings – "tough" organic molecules in three-billion-year-old sedimentary rocks near the surface, as well as seasonal variations in the levels of methane in the atmosphere – appear in the June 8 edition of the journal Science.
Organic molecules contain carbon and hydrogen, and also may include oxygen, nitrogen and other elements. While commonly associated with life, organic molecules also can be created by non-biological processes and are not necessarily indicators of life.
"With these new findings, Mars is telling us to stay the course and keep searching for evidence of life," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, in Washington. "I'm confident that our ongoing and planned missions will unlock even more breathtaking discoveries on the Red Planet."
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Snow on Friday June 08 2018, @04:44PM (5 children)
How many stories have there been about methane found on mars? Oodles!
From what we know, mars was once much nicer than it is now. On Earth, we find life virtually everywhere. I suspect that once we can get some samples back from mars (or have an actual lab on mars), we will find life there too.
I would be shocked if mars was completely sterile. I also think that the lift we do end up finding on mars will be almost identical to life found on earth (ie. it will fit into our existing classification systems).
But then again, I don't really know anything about biology or geology. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday June 08 2018, @05:03PM (4 children)
Basically, TFS and TFA say, "Hey, we found a hydrocarbon on Mars!" An indicator that we already knew existed. Now - if/when they find CHO compounds undergoing some chemical changes, some excitement may be justified. Maybe. A CHO compound is probably an indicator that there is life around, and watching it undergo some kind of chemical reaction will probably reveal that life. Then again - maybe not. We can't yet rule out the possibility that CHO's form and then oxidize in the absence of life. Not yet, anyway.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 08 2018, @05:18PM
There are lakes of hydrocarbon on Titan.
https://principia-scientific.org/nasa-finds-lakes-of-hydrocarbons-on-saturn-s-moon-titan/ [principia-scientific.org]
(Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Friday June 08 2018, @05:51PM
Did anyone think the Administrator would say anything else?
Seriously, this finding was telegraphed, then embargoed, then announced with great fanfare. Just like the blueberries, which were also signs of life. Molecules buried in rock. In all these years, nothing approximating a fossil of moss or even a sea bed slime.
OK. Molecules in rocks. But it seems a tad over-hyped if you ask me. A budget play?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 08 2018, @10:17PM (1 child)
One fine day a fucking dog will appear barking at the rover's camera with the highest resolution and NASA will say they can't confirm or deny the presence of life on Mars
(Score: 2) by pvanhoof on Saturday June 09 2018, @10:30AM
If the dog is fucking, then the camera will probably detect another dog too.