Life on Mars: Organic molecules discovered by Red Planet rover offer major hint

NASA’s Curiosity rover has scooped up interesting organic compounds on the surface of Mars, which hint that early forms of life could be present on the Red Planet.

The car-sized machine has been trundling around Mars’ Gale crater for over seven years now. It has beamed back all sorts of fascinating images during its time investigating the planet’s rocky surface. However, its unearthing of some simple organic compounds may be its most important discovery yet.

The compounds, which are called thiophenes, are found on Earth in coal, crude oil and, strangely enough, in white truffles, the mushroom that’s the darling of the fine food scene.

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