Diverse organic-mineral associations in Jezero crater, Mars - Nature
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Raman and fluorescence spectra, consistent with several species of aromatic organic molecules, are reported in the Crater Floor sequences of Jezero crater, Mars, suggesting multiple mechanisms of organic synthesis, transport, or preservation.
  • admiralteal@kbin.social
    18·
    1 year ago

    For anyone uncertain of terminology, “organic” does not mean or even necessarily imply life.

    For example, “organic” molecules – tholins – are the reason Pluto’s got red on it, and there’s pretty close to zero speculation of life out there. In Pluto’s case, they form just from UV interactions with methane. Both methane and the tholins produced from it are fairly abundant in our solar system out past the sun’s frost band.

    What this does indicate is even more evidence that Mars at least has at some point been a place suitable for life. These are among the ingredients you need to make a big old bowl of primordial soup.