The Curiosity rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars, uncovering 21 organic molecules that have survived for 3.5 billion years in the harsh Martian environment.
The analysis performed by Curiosity has revealed that the molecules, which include carbon, are linked to life, but scientists are uncertain whether they are the result of ancient life on Mars or non-biological processes.
According to the experiment lead, an astrogeologist at the University of Florida, the organic matter has been preserved for billions of years, and its survival in the subsurface environment is a significant finding.
The rover's discoveries with other instruments aboard the robot have detected compounds that are linked to life, including a structure similar to the early forms of DNA, although scientists are quick to note that there are several steps between the discovery and DNA.
The observation from Curiosity could be significant in tying into discoveries from other Mars rovers, and the European Space Agency's upcoming Rosalind Franklin mission is expected to carry out more sophisticated tests on the compounds it finds.
