NASA says its Curiosity rover has detected the most diverse set of organic molecules ever found on Mars, including multiple compounds not previously seen on the planet. The findings come from an ancient rock sample drilled by Curiosity and bolster the case that Mars once had conditions favorable for life, even as researchers stress that this is not direct proof of biology.
NASA’s Curiosity rover has detected more than 20 organic molecules, including structures resembling proto-DNA, in Mars’ Gale Crater. Scientists say the chemistry strengthens evidence that Mars once had environments capable of supporting life. Some of the organics may even have been delivered by meteorites, adding a fresh pathway to how life-building materials could arrive and persist.
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Chilean scientists are gearing up for a landmark space mission designed to see how life behaves under space conditions. The spacecraft will carry six microorganisms taken from extreme habitats such as the Atacama Desert and Antarctica, then test their survival in an oxygen free environment. Researchers hope the results will clarify how life may begin and persist beyond Earth.
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