Irover perseverance NASA has found evidence of some diversity among organic molecules on Mars. the organic molecules They are the basic building blocks of life on Earth.
Banner photo: Jezero crater seen by the probe Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter from NASA. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU)
The results, published this week (link below), indicate a more complex geochemical cycle than previously thought in the planet’s distant past.
Perseverance rover on Mars. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
on mars, organic molecules Not new. These are compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen. Several different types of organic molecules have already been found in Martian meteorites on Earth as well as in storm hole where is the crater jezero on the surface of the red planet.
The Perseverance rover confirms the presence of organic molecules in Mars’ Jezero crater
According to the researchers:
Assessing the diversity of organic matter and its potential for detection elsewhere on Mars is important for understanding the extent and diversity of Martian surface processes and the potential availability of carbon sources.
the crater jezero It is the site of an ancient lake basin that has been identified as a high-potential site to search for evidence of life once on Mars.
Topographical image of the Jezero crater on Mars. The lighter the color, the higher the height. The circled area defines the search region of perseverance. (NASA)
The ten targets of Mu’adh Wasita, two formations located at the bottom of the crater, revealed the presence of organic molecules.
Organic compounds were more concentrated in Ma’adh than in a simple comparison, as both formations showed a wide range of hydrocarbon molecules. The diversity of the compounds present in the samples can lead to a better understanding of the origin of the organic matter.
These two maps show the location of Al Muthabara in Setah. The right frame has been colored to show the predominance of olivine (red) and two types of pyroxene (green and blue). (NASA)
The authors suggest that the organic molecules in the formations may have been deposited by water or synthesized by volcanic materials.
According to the researchers:
These potential organic molecules are largely present in minerals related to hydrothermal processes, suggesting that these processes may have played a major role in the synthesis, transport or preservation of organic matter.
A view from stillness of the sandy area of Sittah, a Navajo word meaning “among the sands.” (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
the tool Sherlock (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals) from Perseverance to detect organic molecules in Jezero Crater where the rover landed in 2021.
From the study: An overview of targets analyzed by SHERLOC during the campaign on the crater floor. a, HiRISE (High-Resolution Scientific Imaging Experiment) image of the surveyed area with the rover traverse marked in white, the boundary between Sita and Ma’adh marked in light blue, and each rock target. 100 m scale. (S. Sharma et al./ Nature)
SHERLOC is the first instrument to allow accurate mapping and analysis of organic molecules and minerals found on the surface of Mars. Uses Raman spectroscopywhich uses light scattered by molecules at different frequencies to accurately determine the compounds present in a sample and their relative abundance.
The study published in the journal Nature: Various organic and mineral associations in Jezero Crater, Mars And view it on the University of Florida website: The study reveals evidence of diverse organic materials on Mars.
