NASA’s Curiosity rover detects organic molecules on Mars

Curiosity’s SAM is a suite of instruments. PIC COURTESY/NASA

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover found a diverse mix of organic molecules on the Red Planet. This is the first time a new kind of chemical experiment has been performed on another planet. Curiosity is wheeling in the Glen Torridon region of Gale crater.

It utilised its Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite to detect organic molecules in clay-rich sandstone, including nitrogen and sulfur-bearing molecules that are similar to the raw material that helped spur life on Earth. Curiosity plopped down on Mars on August 6, 2012.

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