Curiosity Mars rover discovers largest organic molecules ever seen on Red Planet

[Admin]

While the presence of these molecules is not proof of ancient life on Mars, scientists say it shows we could detect chemical signatures of past life, if it ever existed.

Curiosity Mars rover discovers largest organic molecules ever seen on Red Planet : Read more

 

[Classical Motion]

Like life, the record of it is temporary. And easily mislabeled. If man can't find what he's looking for, he will event it.

 

[contrarian]

Very curious that these hydrocarbons are found only as linear chains, without any branching, and only three different lengths at that (with a cutoff at dodecane due to instrument limitation).

Possibly of biological origin since abiotic processes forming such compounds would be expected to leave a larger assortment of lengths, and some branched forms might also be expected.* So it is also very interesting that smaller chains were not observed, which are within the instrument's range.

Does anybody know about the presence of such specific alkanes in meteorites?


* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer–Tropsch_process