‘Meteorite carbon originated on Mars’

According to the study, published in the journal Science, the molecules contain chains of carbon and hydrogen which are the building blocks of life on Earth, Science Daily reported.

Scientists had previously offered different explanations regarding the origin and formation of the molecules. Some researchers had argued that the molecules were the result of contamination from the Earth or other meteorites.

The new study, however, provides strong evidence that the carbon chains originated on Mars.

Researchers at the Carnegie Institution for Science studied samples from eleven Martian meteorites and found carbon compounds in ten of them.

The team then used several research techniques and could prove that some of the macromolecules of carbon were indigenous to the meteorites themselves.

The results also showed that the carbon was created during volcanism on Mars and was organic rather than biological.

“These findings show that the storage of reduced carbon molecules on Mars occurred throughout the planet’s history and might have been similar to processes that occurred on the ancient Earth,” said the lead author Andrew Steele.

“Understanding the genesis of these non-biological, carbon-containing macromolecules on Mars is crucial for developing future missions to detect evidence of life on our neighboring planet,” he added.

Scientists are hopeful that the new findings would help them gain further insight into the chemical structure of Mars.

TNP/HGH

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