Organic materials discovered on Mars can have originated from atmospheric formaldehyde, based on latest research, marking a step forward in our understanding of the potential of past life on the Red Planet.
Scientists from Tohoku University have investigated whether the early atmospheric conditions on Mars had the potential to foster the formation of biomolecules — organic compounds essential for biological processes. Their findings, published in Scientific Reports, offer intriguing insights into the plausibility of Mars harboring life in its distant past.
Today, Mars presents a harsh environment characterised by dryness and extreme cold, but geological evidence hints at a more hospitable past. About 3.8-3.6 billion years ago, the planet probably had a temperate climate, sustained by the warming properties of gases like hydrogen. In such an environment, Mars can have had liquid water, a key ingredient for all times as we realize it.
The researchers investigated whether formaldehyde could have formed within the early Martian environment. Formaldehyde is a straightforward organic compound that plays a vital role as a precursor for the formation of important biomolecules through purely chemical or physical processes. These biomolecules, like amino acids and sugars, function the basic constructing blocks for proteins and RNA, essential components of life.
Using a sophisticated computer model, the team simulated the potential atmospheric composition of early Mars to explore the potential for formaldehyde production. The model was built with the belief that the atmosphere was wealthy in carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide. Their simulations suggest that the traditional Martian atmosphere could have provided a continuous supply of formaldehyde which might have potentially led to the creation of assorted organic compounds. This raises the intriguing possibility that the organic materials detected on the Martian surface could have originated from atmospheric sources, particularly in the course of the planet’s two earliest geological periods.
“Our research provides crucial insights into the chemical processes which will have occurred on ancient Mars, offering beneficial clues to the potential of past life on the planet,” says Shungo Koyama, lead writer of the study. By revealing that there have been conditions favorable for the formation of bio molecules, the research broadens our understanding of the planet’s ancient capability to sustain life.
Next, the team plans to research geological data gathered by NASA’s Martian rovers, with the aim of accelerating their understanding of organic materials present early within the planet’s history. By comparing the expected carbon isotopes of ancient formaldehyde with data from Martian samples, they hope to get a greater picture of the processes that shaped the planet’s organic chemistry
