Organic Molecules Discovered on Mars Similar to Early Life on Earth
- Organic Molecules Discovered on Mars Similar to Early Life on Earth
by Sean Keach, The Sun, https://nypost.com/, 5 March 2020
Organic molecules found on Mars are “consistent with early life” on the red planet, scientists have revealed. The matter is a tantalizing clue in the hunt for alien life in our Solar System. Mars has always been a great candidate for alien life – and hunting for it there is relatively easy, compared to other planets.
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Now hope for a breakthrough has been boosted by the discovery of organic compounds on Mars. They’re called thiophenes, and are found on Earth. You’ll find thiophenes in coal, crude oil, and even white truffles – a popular type of mushroom. According to scientists, their presence is consistent with early life having existed on Mars. It’s believed that a biological process may have played a role in the organic compound’s existence on Mars.
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However, they say this more likely involved bacteria than a truffle. “We identified several biological pathways for thiophenes that seem more likely than chemical ones, but we still need proof,” said astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuchm, of Washington State University. “If you find thiophenes on Earth, then you would think they are biological, but on Mars, of course, the bar to prove that has to be quite a bit higher.”
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The bad news is that it’s possible that these compounds were formed through non-biological processes. One explanation would be meteor impacts, which can create the compounds through high-temperature chemical interactions. However, there is a biological back-story too. Today, Mars is a cold and inhospitable world. But three billion years ago, Mars was warmer and wetter – allowing bacteria to facilitate a “sulfate reduction process” that results in thiophenes.
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– - Nasa scientist says ‘we’re close’ to huge reveal about life on Mars – and humanity ‘isn’t prepared’ for it
by Harry Pettit3 Oct 2019
A TOP scientist at Nasa says the agency will soon disclose something “revolutionary” about alien lifeforms. Planetary Science Division director Dr Jim Green boasted the agency is close to “making some announcements” about finding life on Mars — but that we’re not ready for it.
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Speaking to the Telegraph, he warned that the world isn’t prepared for the discovery of life on another planet, which may only be a couple of years away. “It will be revolutionary,” Dr Green said. “It’s like when Copernicus stated ‘no we go around the Sun.’ Completely revolutionary. “It will start a whole new line of thinking. I don’t think we’re prepared for the results. We’re not.” He added that he’s worried because Nasa is close to finding life and announcing the discovery, and he doesn’t know what will happen afterwards.
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