Curiosity rover makes ‘arguably the most exciting organic detection to date on Mars’ | CNN

NASA 's Curiosity rover has detected the largest organic molecules found to date on Mars .

The compounds suggest complex organic chemistry may have occurred in the planet’s past.

The organic compounds came to light after the rover analyzed a pulverized 3.7 billion-year-old rock sample using its onboard mini lab called SAM .

Curiosity 's ability to spot larger molecules suggests it could detect similar chemical signatures of past life on Mars .

Previous molecules detected on Mars were smaller, meaning their atomic weight was less than the molecules found in the new study.

Next, the team wants to design a new experiment to see what it can detect.

Some scientists believe fatty acids formed the membranes of the first simple cell-like structures on Earth .

If the molecules in the Cumberland sample are the byproduct of microbial life that existed 3.7 billion years ago , such a finding would align with the same time frame as when scientists think life was starting on Earth .

Curiosity ’s finding feels “so close” to helping make that determination, Glavin said.