Summary
NASA’s Curiosity rover discovered the largest organic compounds ever detected on Mars in a 3.7-billion-year-old rock sample from Yellowknife Bay.
The compounds, including long-chain alkanes, could result from chemical reactions or remnants of ancient Martian life.
Scientists found hints of fatty acid patterns similar to those in terrestrial biochemistry, but no definitive evidence of life.
Researchers call it the best opportunity yet to identify potential life remnants on Mars, though further analysis requires returning the samples to Earth for isotope testing.
long chain alkanes
P E T R O L E U M
Nothing says remnants of life like fatty acids reduced to hydrocarbon.
Sounds like Mars needs some freedom
US liberating Mars in 3 2 1 …
Cool. Just gotta return the samples to earth. Should be easy
I believe it was always the plan to return samples, however, that is assuming the funding for it won’t be cut, which unfortunately might end up being the case
Meh. Tell us when Mars has orgasmic compounds.
I’m training, but still seem to be far away from escape velocity.
Maybe if we could catapult me at the point of climax?
I hope its not Whole Foods, it would set NASA back ten years.
Anyone want to translate this from science journalism to what actually happened?
Maybe found fossils of cell membranes, maybe not
Thats awesome!
I looked at the picture. That’s just a rock.
