Perseverance rover detects organic carbon on Martian surface

Detection of Carbon on Mars

NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered complex macromolecular carbon at the Bright Angel site in Jezero Crater. This marks the shallowest detection of organic matter on the Martian surface to date. Prior findings of organic carbon were generally located within rocks that required drilling or abrasion to expose.

Method of Detection

The detection was achieved using SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals), a UV Raman spectrometer. SHERLOC activates a deep-ultraviolet laser and analyzes the returning light to identify chemical bonds. This method revealed four targets, with three sites showing a spectroscopic signature of macromolecular carbon.

Significance of the Findings

Finding macromolecular carbon on the surface of Mars piques interest because, on Earth, similar concentrations typically indicate a biological origin. However, researchers note that the term kerogen, commonly associated with fossilized biological matter, cannot be applied without further analysis. Thus, the origin of this Martian carbon remains uncertain, warranting possible future sample return missions to Earth for comprehensive analysis.

Next Steps for Research

To accurately determine the source of the macromolecular carbon found on Mars, scientists may need to plan sample return missions. Analyzing samples in Earth laboratories could provide more definitive insights into whether the carbon is biotic or abiotic in nature.