TheNational Aeronautics and Space Administration‘s (NASA) Curiosity rover has detected more than 20 organic molecules in the Glen Torridon region of Mars’ Gale Crater, including a nitrogen-containing compound structurally similar to building blocks of DNA, according to a study published April 21 inNature Communications.

The discovery marks the first time such a molecule has been identified on Mars, researchers said. The findings, led by Amy Williams, a geological sciences professor at the University of Florida, indicate that organic matter may be preserved in ancient clay-rich rocks that once held water.

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The organic compounds could originate from geological processes or meteorites that struck the planet. Similar meteoritic material on Earth provided building blocks for life, Williams noted in the report . The presence of preserved organics suggests ancient Mars had conditions favorable for habitability, though not proof of life.

The analysis was carried out using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite, operated by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The experiment used a chemical called TMAH to break down larger organic molecules into smaller fragments that could be examined by SAM’s onboard instruments, according to the study .

Because Curiosity carries only about two cups of TMAH, researchers had to carefully select the best sampling site. The experiment took place in 2020 at Glen Torridon, a region rich in clay minerals that formed in the presence of water and are effective at trapping and preserving organic material

Williams, the study’s lead author, stated that the organic matter may be 3.5 billion years old. “We think we’re looking at organic matter that’s been preserved on Mars for 3.5 billion years,” she said. “It’s really useful to have evidence that ancient organic matter is preserved, because that is a way to assess the habitability of an environment.”

The rover, which landed in Gale Crater in 2012, has been investigating whether the planet once had conditions suitable for microbial life. Previous experiments on Mars, such as the Viking landers’ labeled release tests, also indicated possible biological activity, though those results remain debated .

Among the detected molecules was benzothiophene, a sulfur-containing compound with two connected rings that is commonly delivered to planets by meteorites. “The same stuff that rained down on Mars from meteorites is what rained down on Earth, and it probably provided the building blocks for life as we know it on our planet,” Williams said. The detection of a nitrogen-containing molecule resembling DNA building blocks is unprecedented on Mars, the study noted.

Previous Curiosity findings have identified organic molecules of “unprecedented size” on Mars, including compounds resembling fatty acids that are key building blocks of life, according to a March 2025 report from independent news sourceNaturalNews.com. These earlier discoveries in Gale Crater samples also suggested that Mars once had conditions suitable for biology.

Source: SGT Report