NASA's Curiosity rover found organic compounds called thiophenes in soil samples that may have been produced by bacteria.
For story suggestions or custom animation requests, contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw.
Visit http://archive.nextanimationstudio.com to view News Direct's complete archive of 3D news animations.
RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN In a study published in Astrobiology, astrobiologists at Washington State University and Technische Universitat in Berlin, say NASA's Curiosity rover found organic compounds called thiophenes in soil samples that may have been produced by bacteria.
The rover's instruments break down larger molecules and scientists can only examine chemical fragments.
This means they cannot rule out a non-biological origin for the thiophenes, according to a press release from Washington State University.
On Earth, thiophenes are found in coal, crude oil and white truffles.
A thiophene molecule has four carbon atoms and a sulfur atom that make up a ring.
Carbon and sulfur are essential elements to living organisms. The thiophene could be non-biological or bacterial in origin, but the evidence is not conclusive for either case.
The study's authors say that bacteria may have existed when Mars was hotter and wetter three billion years ago.
Some of those bacteria may have played a role in the sulfate reduction that transforms sulfur to thiophenes.
RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.
Curiosity identifies organic compound thiophenes on Mars 2.
Thippenes may be bacterial in origin and found in coal, crude oil and truffles on Earth 3.
Thiopenes contain bioessential elements of carbon and sulfur 4.
Bacteria that may have existed on Mars could have produced thiophenes VOICEOVER (in English): "In a study published in Astrobiology, astrobiologists at Washington State University and Technische Universitat in Berlin, say NASA's Curiosity rover found organic compounds called thiophenes in soil samples that may have been produced by bacteria." "The rover's instruments break down larger molecules and scientists can only examine chemical fragments.
This means they cannot rule out a non-biological origin for the thiophenes, according to a press release from Washington State University." "On Earth, thiophenes are found in coal, crude oil and white truffles." "A thiophene molecule has four carbon atoms and a sulfur atom that make up a ring.
Carbon and sulfur are essential elements to living organisms. The thiophene could be non-biological or bacterial in origin, but the evidence is not conclusive for either case." "The study's authors say that bacteria may have existed when Mars was hotter and wetter three billion years ago.
Some of those bacteria may have played a role in the sulfate reduction that transforms sulfur to thiophenes." SOURCES: Astrobiology, Washington State University (Phys.org) http://astrobiology.com/2020/03/organic-molecules-discovered-by-curiosity-rover-consistent-with-early-life-on-mars.html https://phys.org/news/2020-03-molecules-curiosity-rover-early-life.html *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377
After tracking methane levels on Mars over the past few years, Elizabeth Rampe, NASA Exploration Mission Scientist, breaks the news..
