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Nasa rover discovers largest organic compounds yet found on Mars (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So my carbon fibre bicycle is organic? Neato.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

Yup. Carbon fiber is probably categorized as organic chemistry. It's a historical term that has broadened to mean basically all carbon chemistry

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