A new analysis of a famous meteorite could help scientists figure out if there is life on Mars.
Scientists have conducted a new analysis of the Tissint meteorite, which flew from Mars to Earth and crashed in Morocco in 2011. The curious thing about this meteorite is the presence of a wide variety of organic substances in its composition, as scientists have found. Scientists believe the new data will help better understand whether there is life on Mars, writes ScienceAlert.
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Tissinth is a 7 kg meteorite that flew from Mars 700,000 years ago when a large asteroid hit its surface.
“Earth and Mars have a lot in common in terms of evolutionary processes. But life arose on Earth, but was it on Mars? Although there are claims that it exists, it is still not known for certain. However, more extensive research is needed,” says Munich Teknik, Germany University of Philipp Schmitt-Kopplin.
What are organic molecules? These are molecules made up of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms. They may also contain oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements. The four main classes of organic molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids.
On Earth, organic molecules are inextricably linked to the existence of life, but there are non-biological processes that can create these molecules. Scientists have seen something similar in other meteorites from Mars.
By the way, the composition of the Tissint meteorite is compared with the organic composition of the ALH 84001 meteorite, again from Mars, which was carefully studied at the end of the 90s of the last century. Initially, scientists even suggested that fossils of microorganisms can be found in its composition, but later it turned out that there was no such thing there.
According to Andrew Steel of the Carnegie Institution in the USA, it is necessary to understand exactly what processes are behind the emergence of organic molecules in order to determine the likelihood of life on Mars and what exactly could contribute to it.
Scientists conducted a comprehensive analysis of the organic composition of the Martian Tissint meteorite, where they found great chemical diversity and a large number of complex molecules. Meanwhile, this analysis has provided some clues about ancient geological processes in Mars’ crust and mantle.
As part of the study, scientists discovered various organic magnesium compounds that had never been found on Mars before. This could provide new evidence of the existence of geochemical processes taking place in the bowels of the planet, thereby establishing a link between the mineral evolution of the Red Planet and the carbon cycle.
According to Schmitt-Koplin, meteorites very well reflect the chemical composition of their homeland, cosmic bodies. But we still have to wait for the samples from the Martian surface collected by the Perseverance rover to be delivered in 2033. Then it will be possible to more precisely understand how exactly organic compounds arose on the planet.
Focus He has already written that the European Space Agency has shown how to collect samples and send them to Earth.
same Focus He wrote that scientists have discovered one of the largest meteorites of the century in Antarctica.
Source: Focus
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