Curiosity rover re-discovered organics on the Red Planet
Experts working with the Curiosity rover, led by Paul Mahaffy, said that the device was the second place has been discovered where it was possible to find large enough reserves of organic matter in Krasnaya planet. This time, organic matter was found in the area of the so-called Bagnold dunes.
Organics on Mars - signs of a past life or inorganic formations
Before the next discovery, the rover was engaged in researching rocks that were formed in ancient hot springs. It was hypothesized that it was here in antiquity that ancient life could well exist. Therefore, Curiosity was sent to study the Bagnold Dunes in order to collect and study rock and soil samples.
For these purposes, on the rover itself there is a special device that is capable of conducting experiments using the so-called wet chemistry - a process during which soil samples pre-crushed and washed with a specialized solution that allows you to dissolve complex organic matter and determine its presence through the use chromatograph.
So, after analyzing the selected samples and studying the results obtained, scientists were able to find compounds benzene, various amines, phenols, phosphoric acid and a couple of dozen more complex organic molecules.
Unfortunately, their exact composition is unknown. Since the laboratory installed on board Curiosity has rather limited functionality. So far, scientists have not found traces of amino acids in the samples studied.
But scientists do not give up hope to find traces of amino acids, as well as various other substances, which were the main building blocks of ancient Martian life.
Do you think scientists will find traces of ancient or not very ancient life on the Red Planet? Write about it in the comments.
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