NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered complex carbon molecules in Martian rocks, adding fresh momentum to the search for evidence that the Red Planet may once have supported life.
The discovery was made in mudstones at the Bright Angel outcrop while the rover explored Neretva Vallis, an ancient river channel that once carried water into Jezero Crater billions of years ago. Scientists used Perseverance’s SHERLOC instrument to detect the organic carbon compounds.
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Researchers identified the material as macromolecular carbon (MMC), a form of carbon that can be produced by living organisms but may also form through natural geological processes. As a result, scientists have cautioned that the finding should not be interpreted as proof of past life on Mars.
The rocks where the carbon was detected have already been under investigation for possible signs of ancient microbial activity, making the latest discovery particularly significant.
Dr. Ashley Murphy of the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona explained that macromolecular carbon is found in a variety of rock types and environments. She noted that while it can originate from biological sources, including fossilised organic matter in microbial mats and coal, it can also be created through chemical reactions between rocks and water or be delivered to Mars by meteorites.
Although the discovery does not confirm the existence of ancient life, it provides another important clue in understanding Mars’ geological history and its potential to have once harboured habitable conditions. Scientists hope that future analysis, including studies of Martian rock samples that may eventually be returned to Earth, will help determine the true origin of the carbon compounds.
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