[News & Analysis] Planetary Science: Search for Martian Life Clears Another Hurdle

The simple organic compounds discovered by the Curiosity Mars rover either came with the tons of never-alive cosmic debris that sifts onto every planetary body or are something far more exciting: remains of martian life from eons ago, when a habitable lake graced the rover's landing site. Researchers could learn more about the complex organic molecules that yielded these first finds if Curiosity's drilling strikes a richer vein of organics in the coming months or if a more sophisticated analytical technique is employed. Author: Richard A. Kerr
Source: Science: This Week - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Planetary Science Source Type: research