Nitrogen found on Mars! What does it mean?

            

           The Curiosity rover, a car sized rover, was launched by NASA on 11/26/11.  Its mission is to explore the Gale Crater of Mars.

This rover sends information back to NASA with any discoveries made on Mars. Four years after the launch the Mars Curiosity Rover, the rover has detected traces of nitrogen on Martian sediment. The nitrogen discovered by the rover is in the form of nitric oxide and was released by heating soil sediments.

            Is the discovery of nitrogen directly linked to living organisms? Not in in this case. It is believed that the nitrogen is a product of “meteorite impacts and lighting in Mars’ distant past.

            Nitrogen is essential to the sustain life, as it is present in the “building blocks of larger molecules like DNA and RNA. These molecules encode the genetic instructions for life. Proteins are used to build structures like hair and nails and to speed up or regulate chemical reactions. However, this finding does not indicate that Mars is hospitable planet.  Simply because nitrogen is present in Mars, just as on Earth, does not indicate that life now or before existed on Mars.

Biology- Group B

Jennifer Bahamonde

Abraham Cid

Charles Rivero

Signs of Ancient Life on Mars?

            

Gillespie Lake outcrop in Yellowknife Bay, Mars.

            Curiosity has taken photos that show certain similarities between structures molded by microorganisms on Earth, called microbially-induced sedimentary structures (MISS), and ancient rocks located in Mars, specifically in the Gillespie Lake outcrop in Yellowknife Bay. Geobiologist Nora Noffke, at Old Dominion University, has studied these MISS structures for several years focusing her research in comparing the pictures collected by Curiosity with a series of images taken in Western Australia, Mellum Island in Germany, Portsmouth Island in the United States, etc.

            This comparison reveals similarities between some rock structures in Mars and the Earth. The repetition of patterns in these formations allows would suggest that the microbial processes that shaped this structures on Earth may have also occurred in Mars. But, Noffke needs more physical evidence to prove her hypothesis. Further, Noffke compares several rocks that could be related to microbial structures on Earth that have been constantly changing with time. To illustrate her point, she explains and points out similarities like the structure, organic or chemical signatures and the way these could have been formed. Even though she has found evidence to prove this hypothesis, she still needs to strengthen her thesis and investigations with additional data.

Biology Team: Daniela Guzman, Maria Roa, Oriana Colatosti.                                     Jan. 27, 2016

Fascinating facts about the Curiosity Rover

One of the most advanced engineering aspects about the Curiosity Rover is its 2.1 meters long robotic arm. This incredibly advanced engineering structure can spin up to 350 degrees, and is composed of a total of three joints that allow the arm to be contracted and extended to the needed enlargement. It has a total of five devices attached to it, being three dedicated mainly to the collection of samples; these devices are a drill, a brush and a tool for scooping samples. The other two mechanisms are an X-ray spectrometer and a camera.

            In other related news, a very important instrument that is supposed to be carried inside the “Insight” spaceship, to be launch early next year 2016, has been experiencing a leak, identified to be located in the vacuum container in which section most suitable sensors are located. This, of course, represents a significant threat to Mars exploration mission. NASA and CNES (French Space Agency) experts are addressing this issue now.

Alejandro Diaz and Reidel Nabut

Chm 1045 Honors

Dr. Carlos Fernandez