JPL-Managed Curiosity Rover Finds Organic Molecules, Seasonal Methane On Mars; Suggests Planet May Have Once Supported Life

NASA’s Curiosity rover has found what it calls “tough” organic molecules in three-billion-year-old sedimentary rocks near Mars’ surface. Organic molecules, primarily made up of carbon and hydrogen, suggest Mars may have once supported life. While not necessarily evidence of life itself, the findings are a plus for future explorations missions to the Red Planet.

JPL senior research scientist Christopher Webster and co-scientists believe water-rock chemistry might have generated the methane but cannot rule out the possibility of biological origins.

“This is the first time we’ve seen something repeatable in the methane story, so it offers us a handle in understanding it,” said Webster. “This is all possible because of Curiosity’s longevity. The long duration has allowed us to see the patterns in this seasonal ‘breathing.'”

Organic molecules are commonly associated with life, but also can be created by non-biological processes and are not necessarily indicators of life.

Jen Eigenbrode of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland said of the find, “Curiosity has not determined the source of the organic molecules. Whether it holds a record of ancient life, was food for life, or has existed in the absence of life, organic matter in Martian materials holds chemical clues to planetary conditions and processes.”

In another new development, the Curiosity found that levels of methane in the Martian atmosphere vary from season to season, with levels peaking at the end of summer in the planet’s northern hemisphere.

“With these new findings, Mars is telling us to stay the course and keep searching for evidence of life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, in Washington. “I’m confident that our ongoing and planned missions will unlock even more breathtaking discoveries on the Red Planet.”

The discoveries appear in two papers June 8 edition of the journal Science. The paper on organic molecules is lead-authored by Eigenbrode, and the paper on methane is lead-authored by Webster.