Mars Rover Curiosity Finds Complex Chemistry On Mars, But Can't Confirm Organics -- Yet
Scoops At Rocknest This is a view of the third (left) and fourth (right) trenches made by the 1.6-inch-wide scoop on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity in October 2012. The image shows some of the properties of the "Rocknest" wind drift sand. The upper surface of the drift is covered by coarse sand grains approximately 0.02 to 0.06 inches in size. Beneath the crust surface is finer sand, which is darker brown. NASA/JPL-CaltechCuriosity has found some intriguing stuff in the Martian dirt, but it's not clear whether trace organic material is from Earth. NASA's Mars rover Curiosity can't yet confirm any organic compounds on the Red Planet, NASA scientists said today--but the rover is seeing some intriguing chemicals, which will lead to further careful analysis about whether its home in Gale Crater could have played host to life. "SAM has no definitive detection to report of organic compounds," said Paul Mahaffy,...