Mars Curiosity rover has measured a tenfold spike in methane, an organic chemical, in its atmosphere from previous readings. I appears to fluctuate and it is now 10 times higher than last year. Further, Curiosity has detected other organic molecules in a rock-powder sample collected by the robotic laboratory's drill.
Curiosity detected organic chemicals in powder drilled
from a rock dubbed Cumberland, the first definitive detection of organics in
surface materials of Mars.
These
Martian organics could either have formed on Mars or been delivered to Mars by
meteorites. Organic molecules, which contain carbon and usually
hydrogen, are chemical building blocks of life, although they can exist without
the presence of life.
Curiosity's
findings from analyzing samples of atmosphere and rock powder do not reveal
whether Mars has ever harbored living organisms, but the findings do shed light
on a chemically active modern Mars and on favorable conditions for life on
ancient Mars.
Source: http://www.gizmag.com/curiosity-mars-complex-organic-chemistry/35241/
Group (Chemistry): Ailet Reyes and Rene Piedra
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