NASA’s Perseverance rover has detected large, complex carbon molecules on rocks in Jezero Crater that show patterns resembling ancient microbial activity on Earth.
The rover entered the Bright Angel outcrop in 2024 near an ancient riverbed. It photographed rocks marked with dark circular patterns up to a millimetre across, known as leopard spots and poppy seeds.
Using the SHERLOC instrument, researchers identified macromolecular carbon on these rocks and on another formation 100 metres away. The compounds appear alongside carbonate and sulphate minerals that typically form in water-rich settings.
Ashley Murphy of the Planetary Science Institute noted that on Earth such carbon is often the only organic evidence of past microbial life. Kyle Uckert of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said its presence throughout the mudstones was surprising.
Scientists caution that non-biological sources cannot yet be ruled out. Samples would need to return to Earth for detailed analysis to determine any biological origin.