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Nasa rover discovers largest organic compounds yet found on Mars (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Summary

NASA’s Curiosity rover discovered the largest organic compounds ever detected on Mars in a 3.7-billion-year-old rock sample from Yellowknife Bay.

The compounds, including long-chain alkanes, could result from chemical reactions or remnants of ancient Martian life.

Scientists found hints of fatty acid patterns similar to those in terrestrial biochemistry, but no definitive evidence of life.

Researchers call it the best opportunity yet to identify potential life remnants on Mars, though further analysis requires returning the samples to Earth for isotope testing.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 months ago (3 children)

FYI in science the word "organic" does NOT mean life-related. Organic basically just means carbon

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So my carbon fibre bicycle is organic? Neato.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Yup. Carbon fiber is probably categorized as organic chemistry. It's a historical term that has broadened to mean basically all carbon chemistry

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I had a friend who was convinced that we had found extraterrestrial life long ago. Not little green aliens. Se just read all those "organic compounds founds", and assumed it was life. So she was casually living in a reality where humanity had found evidence of extraterrestrial life.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Cool. Just gotta return the samples to earth. Should be easy

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

I believe it was always the plan to return samples, however, that is assuming the funding for it won't be cut, which unfortunately might end up being the case

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

@MicroWave

I hope its not Whole Foods, it would set NASA back ten years.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Meh. Tell us when Mars has orgasmic compounds.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

I'm training, but still seem to be far away from escape velocity.

Maybe if we could catapult me at the point of climax?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Thats awesome!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I looked at the picture. That's just a rock.