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    Scientists Just Found 3.7 Billion-Year-Old Organic Chains on Mars That May Point to Life

    By CNRS3 Comments4 Mins Read
    Mars Chemistry Art Concept
    A team of international scientists has discovered the longest organic molecules ever found on Mars—carbon chains up to 12 atoms long—in clay that’s been untouched for 3.7 billion years. These molecules bear similarities to biological compounds on Earth, raising hopes about ancient life or life-like chemistry on the Red Planet. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.com

    A stunning discovery on Mars has revealed the longest organic molecules ever found on the planet—carbon chains that could resemble building blocks of life as we know it.

    Preserved for billions of years in ancient Martian clay, these molecules were uncovered by NASA’s Curiosity rover and could point to a more chemically complex past on the Red Planet.

    Longest Organic Molecules Found on Mars

    Scientists from CNRS,[1] along with collaborators in France, the United States, Mexico, and Spain, have detected the longest organic molecules ever identified on Mars. These molecules, carbon chains with up to 12 consecutive carbon atoms, resemble fatty acids, which on Earth are often associated with biological processes.[2]

    Long-Chain Hydrocarbons Discovered on Mars
    This graphic shows the long-chain organic molecules decane, undecane, and dodecane. These are the largest organic molecules discovered on Mars to date. They were detected in a drilled rock sample called “Cumberland” that was analyzed by the Sample Analysis at Mars lab inside the belly of NASA’s Curiosity rover. The rover, whose selfie is on the right side of the image, has been exploring Gale Crater since 2012. An image of the Cumberland drill hole is faintly visible in the background of the molecule chains. Credit: NASA/Dan Gallagher

    Ancient Martian Clues to Possible Life

    Thanks to Mars’ stable geology and cold, dry climate, this organic matter has been preserved in a clay-rich sample for approximately 3.7 billion years, dating back to the era when life first appeared on Earth. The findings were published on March 24, 2025, in the journal PNAS.

    How Curiosity Rover Made the Discovery

    The discovery was made using the SAM[3] (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument, co-funded by the French space agency CNES.[4] SAM is part of NASA’s Curiosity rover, which has been exploring Gale Crater since 2012. This breakthrough highlights the potential for future missions to uncover complex, life-like chemistry beyond Earth.

    NASA Curiosity Drilled Rover Rock Target Cumberland
    NASA’s Curiosity rover drilled into this rock target, “Cumberland,” during the 279th Martian day, or sol, of the rover’s work on Mars (May 19, 2013) and collected a powdered sample of material from the rock’s interior. Curiosity used the Mars Hand Lens Imager camera on the rover’s arm to capture this view of the hole in Cumberland on the same sol as the hole was drilled. The diameter of the hole is about 0.6 inches. The depth of the hole is about 2.6 inches. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

    Looking Ahead: Missions to Titan and Beyond

    Such missions include ESA’s ExoMars rover, set to launch in 2028, and the joint NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return mission planned for the 2030s. Looking even further, the same international team is developing a SAM-like instrument for Dragonfly, a drone that will explore Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, starting in 2034.

    Explore Further: Life on Mars? NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds Prebiotic Clues in a 3.7-Billion-Year-Old Rock

    Notes

    1. From the Atmosphères et observations spatiales laboratory (CNRS/Sorbonne Université/Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines/Université Paris Saclay).
    2. They’re present within animals fats, as well as vegetable fats and oils.
    3. Built by a French-American team of scientists, Sample Analysis at Mars is a small laboratory within Curiosity. Its gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer allow it to identify molecules in collected samples.
    4. Centre national d’études spatiales – National Centre for Space Studies.

    Reference: “Long-chain alkanes preserved in a Martian mudstone” by Caroline Freissinet, Daniel P. Glavin, P. Douglas Archer, Samuel Teinturier, Arnaud Buch, Cyril Szopa, James M. T. Lewis, Amy J. Williams, Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez, Jason P. Dworkin, Heather. B. Franz, Maëva Millan, Jennifer L. Eigenbrode, R. E. Summons, Christopher H. House, Ross H. Williams, Andrew Steele, Ophélie McIntosh, Felipe Gómez, Benito Prats, Charles A. Malespin and Paul R. Mahaffy, 24 March 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
    DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2420580122

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    3 Comments

    1. Kris givens on

      How totally awesome! Too bad we don’t have another couple dozen rovers on mars to bad every country don’t or can’t contribute just think of the things we could do

      Reply
      • Dennis on

        It is amazing what we are capable of doing with robotic’s. I remember in the 70’s when they launched the 2 Viking missions. The pictures that were sent back earth were incredible. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
        WA6ATI

        Reply
        • TJ on

          12 consecutive carbon atoms… Oh it must be “life” I’ll wait for more evidence…
          Same with the supposed DMS and DMDS found in the atmosphere of an alien planet…

          Still waiting on ET at the UN

          Reply
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