They find interesting signs of organic molecules on Mars – DW – 13/07/2023

Jezero Crater in arid Mars It could have been a lake in the past and evidence of many organic molecules has been discovered in it, indicating a more complex geochemical cycle than thought.

Study publishes nature The data study was coordinated by the California Institute of Technology (USA). NASA’s Perseverance rover This is for more than two years Jezero Tour.

Organic matter can be formed from various processes, not just those related to life. Geological processes and chemical reactions can also form organic molecules, and these processes are favored for the origin of these potential Martian organic materials, Refers to the University of Florida (USA), One of the signatories to the study.

The study suggests that a better understanding of the presence and distribution of preserved organic matter on the planet’s surface could provide key information about the Martian carbon cycle and the planet’s potential to support life throughout its history.

Evidence of organic molecules on Mars

The investigation indicates that, in its journey, Perseverance has uncovered evidence of different types of organic molecules. Several types have previously been found in Martian meteorites and in Gale Crater.

Among possible explanations for the origin of these compounds are interactions between water and rocks, deposits of dust or interplanetary meteorites, although biotic origins are not excluded, the publication summarizes.

The presence of organic matter on Mars sheds light on the planet’s “potential habitability,” the university adds in a note.

Sherlock gadget on the Perseverance Rover

For this discovery, the SHERLOC instrument was used, one of those carried by the rover, which allows large-scale mapping and analysis of the planet’s organic mineral molecules.

The instrument detected signals from organic molecules in all 10 of the targets it detected on the floor of Jezero Crater, North of the Martian equator, where there was a lake about 3,700 million years ago, is a convenient place to look for signs of past life.

These targets are located in two crater formations, Moadh and Intermediate, and signals from organic molecules were more concentrated in the first than in the latter, showing diverse mineral binding and a spatial distribution that may be unique to each formation.

The study detected “signals consistent” with molecules associated with hydrothermal processes, suggesting that water may have played a major role in a variety of organic materials on Mars.

The diversity among these observations could provide insight into the different ways organic matter might have arisen: perhaps through precipitation by water, or through synthesis with volcanic materials.

“The potential detection of different types of organic carbon on Mars has implications for understanding the carbon cycle on Mars, and the planet’s potential for supporting life throughout its history,” said Amy Williams, one of the study’s signatories and the University of Florida.

“We did not originally expect to detect these potential organic signatures on the floor of Jezero Crater,” Williams added, “but their diversity and distribution across different crater floor units now point to different potential carbon fates in these places.” “

“The results represent an important step forward in our exploration of the Red Planet and lay the foundation for future research into the possibility of life beyond Earth.”

FEW (EFE, University of Florida, nature)