I thought I’d join in the science bloggers sense of anticipation at what the Curiosity Rover has found on Mars. For those who don’t know, John Grotzinger, who is in charge of the rover’s investigations, told the US’s National Public Radio that what they had found was “gonna be one for the history books“.
When hearing which instruments on the rover produced the data – the Sample Analysis at Mars(SAM), which is virtually a complete portable physical chemistry lab – and along with the above quote, most commentators have come to the conclusion that they have found organic compounds, which are, of course, the building blocks of life as we know it.
Previous landers sent to Mars to look for organic compounds have come up empty, which is thought to be due to the presence of perchlorates in the Martian soil which may have confused the instruments in those missions.
Organic molecules on their own do not necessarily mean life, and there is a fair amount of them wandering around in space. What we can hope for is a slightly more complex organic compound, such as an amino acid.
We shall (hopefully) all find out at the American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting on the 3–7 December, where the results will be presented.
Land of Gregs 