NASA's Curiosity rover has identified a diverse set of organic molecules on Mars, including a nitrogen-bearing compound similar in structure to DNA precursors. The finding strengthens the case that ancient organic material can survive in the Martian subsurface, though it does not prove past life because the compounds could also come from geology or meteorites. Phys.org reports: The study was led by Amy Williams, Ph.D., a professor of geological sciences at the University of Florida and a scientist on the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rover missions. Curiosity landed on Mars in 2012 to find evidence that ancient Mars had conditions that could support microbial life billions of years ago; the Perseverance rover, which landed in 2021, was sent to look for signs of any ancient life that might have formed. Among the 20-plus chemicals identified by the experiment, Curiosity spotted a nitrogen-bearing molecule with a structure similar to DNA precursors -- a chemical never before spotted on Mars. The rover also identified benzothiophene, a large, double-ringed, sulfurous chemical often delivered to planets by meteorites. "The same stuff that rained down on Mars from meteorites is what rained down on Earth, and it probably provided the building blocks for life as we know it on our planet," Williams said. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications.

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Après des années d'analyse, les scientifiques ont confirmé la détection de molécules organiques dans un échantillon de Curiosity sur Mars. Ce ne sont (toujours) pas des preuves de vie martienne, mais la Nasa estime que cette découverte est importante.

Longtemps considérée comme maudite, la mission européenne ExoMars voit enfin son horizon s’éclaircir. Épaulé par la NASA, le rover Rosalind Franklin s’envolera fin 2028 à bord du rare et surpuissant Falcon Heavy de SpaceX, prêt à traquer d'anciennes traces de vie sous le sol martien.

La photo de l'éclipse solaire observée par l'équipage d'Artémis II est spectaculaire. Mais cette image partagée par la Nasa est encore plus étonnante qu'on pourrait l'imaginer.