Far out cosmology: large hydrocarbons on Mars (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, April 01, 2025, 14:50 (1 day, 17 hours, 32 min. ago) @ David Turell

Newly found:

https://www.sciencealert.com/nasas-unexpected-discovery-of-the-largest-organics-on-mars...

"NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has detected the largest organic (carbon-containing) molecules ever found on the red planet.

"The discovery is one of the most significant findings in the search for evidence of past life on Mars. This is because, on Earth at least, relatively complex, long-chain carbon molecules are involved in biology.

"These molecules could actually be fragments of fatty acids, which are found in, for example, the membranes surrounding biological cells.

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"The organic molecules found by Curiosity consist of carbon atoms linked in long chains, with other elements bonded to them, like hydrogen and oxygen.

"They come from a 3.7-billion-year-old rock dubbed Cumberland, encountered by the rover at a presumed dried-up lakebed in Mars's Gale Crater. Scientists used the Sample Analysis at Mars (Sam) instrument on the NASA rover to make their discovery.

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"Among the molecules were decane, which has 10 carbon atoms and 22 hydrogen atoms, and dodecane, with 12 carbons and 26 hydrogen atoms. These are known as alkanes, which fall under the umbrella of the chemical compounds known as hydrocarbons.

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"Organic molecules preserved in ancient Martian rocks provide a critical record of the past habitability of Mars and could be chemical biosignatures (signs that life was once there).

"The sample from Cumberland has been analysed by the Sam instrument many times, using different experimental techniques, and has shown evidence of clay minerals, as well as the first (smaller and simpler) organic molecules found on Mars, back in 2015.

"These included several classes of chlorinated and sulphur-containing organic compounds in Gale crater sedimentary rocks, with chemical structures of up to six carbon atoms. The new discovery doubles the number of carbon atoms found in a single molecule on Mars.

"The alkane molecules are significant in the search for biosignatures on Mars, but how they actually formed remains unclear. They could also be derived through geological or other chemical mechanisms that do not involve fatty acids or life. These are known as abiotic sources.

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"It is possible the sample contains even longer chain organic molecules. It may also contain more complex molecules that are indicative of life, rather than geological processes.

"Unfortunately, Sam is not capable of detecting those, so the next step is to deliver Martian rock and soil to more capable laboratories on the Earth.

"Mars Sample Return would do this with the samples already gathered by the Perseverance Mars rover. All that's needed now is the budget."

Comment: it seems carbon compounds are spread all around as if God made the option to start life amywhere.