NASA's Curiosity rover discovered more than 20 organic compounds in Mars' soil, including molecules considered building blocks of life. The discovery occurred following a chemical experiment conducted in 2020 in Gale Crater.
The Curiosity rover was launched in 2011 as part of the Mars Science Laboratory mission with the objective of determining whether Mars ever had environmental conditions suitable for sustaining small life forms. The characterization of organic matter is considered by NASA scientists as a fundamental pillar for exploring both habitability and the search for signs of life on other planets.
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The Curiosity rover found more than 20 organic compounds on Mars
The molecules include nitrogen heterocycles, which form the basis of nucleic acids DNA and RNA
The molecules were found in clay-rich sandstones in Gale Crater, approximately 3.5 billion years old
The experiment cannot distinguish whether the molecules come from past life or geological processes
Curiosity was launched in 2011 and landed in Gale Crater in 2012
The experiment was conducted in 2020 in the Glen Torridon region of the crater