NASA founds Organic Matter on Mars

Samples taken from a 3-billion-years-old mudstone on the surface of Mars by the NASA's Curiosity rover contained organic matter. NASA also told reporters  that the rover has also found traces of methane gas in the atmosphere of Mars. The search for organic compounds and molecules is crucial for searching life outside Earth. The discovery of organic matter in the Martian atmosphere can indicate several things that can include the possibility that an ancient life existed on Mars or a food source for living things. Researchers also believe that the recent discoveries are breakthroughs in the field of astrobiology. Methane is present in those places in our solar system that can host life and it is also considered to be the simplest organic molecule. Moons of Jupiter and Saturn have traces of methane gas. However, the way life exists in other parts of our solar system might be very different from the Earth.  

According to Paul Mahaffy, director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, stated that the search for organic compounds in the solar system is fundamental in the search of life. The samples and data collected by Curiosity rover are very important in ascertaining the processes of living things on Mars. The representative of Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Thomas Zurbuchen, stated that he is confident in the ongoing missions and the mission will unravel more mysterious in the future as well. Since the NASA's Viking mission in the 1970s, researchers are eager to explore the surface of Mars and the possibility of life. It was the first ever successful US project that landed a spacecraft on the surface of Mars that later sent images of the Red Planet. Decades later, Curiosity rover has been inspired by the success of the Viking mission and now it is helping scientists to understand the solar system in which we reside.