Mars life search gets boost as rover test distinguishes mirrored biosignature molecules
A new study shows that the Rosalind Franklin rover's instruments can detect chiral molecules, a key step in identifying potential signs of past life on Mars.
Billions of years ago, Mars may have had conditions suitable for life, but determining whether microorganisms ever existed there remains a challenge. NASA rovers have found organic molecules, but none have conclusively proven a biological origin. The European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover, scheduled to land in 2030, will search for signs of past life using advanced instruments.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, the University of Göttingen, and Côte d'Azur University have tested the rover's ability to identify chiral molecules—those that exist in mirror-image forms. Pristane and phytane, hydrocarbons found in petroleum, are considered potential biosignatures. On Earth, life produces only one chiral form of these molecules, while nonbiological processes create both forms equally.
The rover's Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) can separate chiral molecules using a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer. In a recent test, scientists successfully separated pristane and phytane for the first time using MOMA replicas. The study showed that the instrument can detect these molecules with high sensitivity and accuracy.
To simulate Martian rock, the team used samples from the Murchison meteorite, which contains various organic molecules. Surprisingly, the meteorite's pristane and phytane had equal chiral forms, suggesting contamination from fossil fuel aerosols during its descent. This finding highlights the importance of distinguishing between biological and nonbiological sources of organic molecules in the search for extraterrestrial life.
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