Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Chemistry

Mars updates: Curiosity finds organic compounds, new rover in 2020

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
December 4, 2012
in Chemistry, Science, Space

The much discussed soil analysis samples taken by Curiosity have finally been made public by NASA at the recent  American Geophysical Union annual meeting in San Francisco. The findings are indeed exciting, as scientists have read the presence of organic compounds – critical prerequisites for the both the present and past existence of life. However, scientists have yet to be fully %100 sure these hydrocarbons are indeed native to Mars or just pesky contaminants brought by Curiosity from Earth.

“We have no definitive detection of Martian organics at this point, but we will keep looking in the diverse environments of Gale Crater,” said investigator Paul Mahaffy in a NASA release.

An assortment of various Martian soils. (c) NASA
An assortment of various Martian soils. (c) NASA

What’s interesting is that the soil containing the carbon compounds wasn’t by far a prime target in the organics search – Curiosity‘s main mission. The soil was simply scooped to clean out the rover’s mobile laboratory and soil-delivery systems, and act as a test for the instruments. A much better chance of finding organics on the Martian surface is by looking at clays and sulfate minerals known to be present at the base of Mount Sharp, in the Gale Crater. All for the better, since if these findings are indeed confirmed to be of native origin, then carbon based compounds should be wide spread throughout the planet.

Carbon: the element of life

The whole announcement came after entire weeks of speculations after NASA officials announced that they’re on the brink of a discovery set for the “history books”, later disclaimed as simple allusions referring to the Curiosity rover mission as a whole.

“When this data first came in, and then was confirmed in a second sample, we did have a hooting and hollering moment,” said project scientist John Grotzinger.

“The enthusiasm we had was perhaps misunderstood. We’re doing science at the pace of science, but news travels at a different speed.”

The findings of organic compounds – different combinations of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine – need to be replicated in other samples at other locations and further efforts intended to rule out the possibility of contaminants needs to be made. Only four months in into its mission, Curiosity still has a lot of time on its hands. I have the feeling we’re just barely scratching the surface of what Curiosity will have to offer for science in the near future.

In other news, at the same American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, the world’s largest annual gathering for Earth and planetary scientists, NASA officials have announced that they are preparing for a new rover launch aimed at the Red Planet in 2020. The new rover will share many aspects of Curiosity’s design

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Curiosity rover switches strategy: hunts for organic molecules
  2. NASA Rover Finds Evidence of Organic Chemistry on Mars
  3. Mars Curiosity rover bound for Mars crater landing soon
  4. Curiosity rover finds that its landing crater on Mars could have been habitable for 700 million years
  5. Mars 2020 rover will go digging for fossils — on Mars
Tags: curiosity rover

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW