At a Glance
- NASA’s Curiosity rover has detected three long-chain organic molecules on Mars. These molecules are typically linked to life on Earth but can also arise through non-biological chemical processes.
- These molecules were discovered in a rock sample from Gale Crater, a location that likely once held water. This suggests that Mars may have had favorable conditions for life in the past.
- The compounds found may be remnants of longer fatty acids essential to forming cell membranes and could indicate the former presence of life-supporting chemistry on the planet.
- Although the source of the molecules is still unclear, their presence strengthens the possibility that Mars was once habitable or contained the necessary ingredients for life to emerge.
- The discovery encourages further exploration, with future missions aimed at collecting and returning Martian samples to Earth for a more precise analysis of the planet’s biological potential.
Scientists working on NASA‘s Curiosity rover have discovered new organic molecules on Mars, offering intriguing clues about the planet’s potential for past life. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focus on three long-chain organic compounds: decane, undecane, and dodecane. These molecules, which contain 10, 11, and 12 carbon atoms, respectively, are typically produced by living organisms on Earth but can also form through non-living chemical processes.
The Curiosity rover drilled into a Martian rock sample called “Cumberland,” located in Gale Crater, a site scientists believe may have once held liquid water. While the main goal was to search for amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), the team unexpectedly found that the sample released small amounts of decane, undecane, and dodecane when heated. This discovery points to the possibility that these compounds came from longer fatty acids essential for life on Earth.
These fatty acids are important because they can help form cell membranes in living organisms. Such compounds on Mars suggest that the planet may have once had the right conditions to support life. Although the exact source of these molecules remains uncertain, the discovery strengthens the idea that Mars might have hosted life in the past or at least had the chemical ingredients necessary for life to develop.
The finding also raises hopes that future missions to Mars could reveal more about the planet’s habitability. By studying these organic molecules, scientists can learn more about how life might have formed on Mars and whether any signs of life could still exist today. As research continues, scientists are eager to bring Mars samples back to Earth for more detailed analysis.
References
- NASA. (2025, March 24). Organic molecules of unprecedented size discovered on Mars. Phys.Org; NASA. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-molecules-unprecedented-size-mars.html
- Freissinet, C., Glavin, D. P., Archer, P. D., Teinturier, S., Buch, A., Szopa, C., Lewis, J. M. T., Williams, A. J., Navarro-Gonzalez, R., Dworkin, J. P., Franz, Heather. B., Millan, M., Eigenbrode, J. L., Summons, R. E., House, C. H., Williams, R. H., Steele, A., McIntosh, O., Gómez, F., … Mahaffy, P. R. (2025). Long-chain alkanes preserved in a Martian mudstone. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(13), e2420580122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2420580122
