this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2025
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Nasa rover discovers largest organic compounds yet found on Mars (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 2 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world
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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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[–] Beacon@fedia.io 29 points 2 months ago (3 children)

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

[–] fartsparkles@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So my carbon fibre bicycle is organic? Neato.

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 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

[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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.