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Nasa rover detects potential signatures of ancient microbial life on Mars

The Guardian UK Wednesday 24 June 2026, 18:00 UTC By Ian Sample Science editor 1 min read
Key Points

Perseverance identifies organic carbon molecules in rocks on riverbed that carried water billions of years agoNasa’s Perseverance rover has detected complex carbon molecules in Martian rocks that are already in the spotlight for bearing potential signatures of ancient microbial life. Measurements taken by the rover’s Sherloc instrument identified organic carbon in mudstones from the Bright Angel outcrop as it trundled along Neretva Vallis, a dried-up river that carried water into the...

Perseverance identifies organic carbon molecules in rocks on riverbed that carried water billions of years ago

Nasa’s Perseverance rover has detected complex carbon molecules in Martian rocks that are already in the spotlight for bearing potential signatures of ancient microbial life.

Measurements taken by the rover’s Sherloc instrument identified organic carbon in mudstones from the Bright Angel outcrop as it trundled along Neretva Vallis, a dried-up river that carried water into the planet’s Jezero crater billions of years ago.

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Nasa (ORG) Martian (ORG) Measurements (PERSON) Neretva Vallis (LOCATION) Jezero (LOCATION)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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