Scientists have revealed the longest organic molecules discovered on Mars so far. Mars, the fourth planet of our Solar System, is a place that cannot be experienced today, but it continues to be a great attraction point for the search for life outside the world.
With extreme temperature changes, fine atmosphere and thirsty structure, Mars continues to be the center of attention from science fiction works to scientific research. However, a study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences magazine, claiming that the major molecules on Mars could be as old as the life on Earth, led to new questions about possible biological activities on the Red Planet.
3.7 billion years of organic molecules
These discovered organic molecules consist of long carbon chains containing a consecutive carbon atom up to 12. According to the study, these molecules have managed to protect against factors such as geological activity, moisture or heat on Mars for about 3.7 billion years. Molecules are dated to a period similar to the oldest living traces known on our planet in their age.
NASA’s Curiosity reconnaissance tool offers important clues about the history of the planet with its research on the surface of Mars for years. The discovery of organic molecules focuses on the importance of carbon, which is a basic element in both DNA and RNA as a result of these efforts. These discovered molecules offer important findings that biological processes may have been experienced in Mars’ past. However, this does not prove that there is life on Mars in the past or today. Nevertheless, this discovery points out that Mars may have conditions to support life once.
The Mystery of Organic Molecules: How did it occur and what is the source?
One of the most interesting points of discovery is that these long carbon chains are still uncertain. Researchers have not yet been able to answer the question of whether these molecules are formed by natural processes on Mars or whether they moved to the planet with an external effect, such as an asteroid hit.
While Curiosity is still continuing its research on the surface of Mars, new tasks are planned to better understand the Red Planet’s past. For example, the exomars of the European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to be launched in 2028. In addition, the task of bringing NASA and ESA jointly to be carried out by Mars will enable the scientists to better understand the planet’s structure by providing a more detailed examination of the examples taken from Mars in the world.
