2024-07-06

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Chemistry in a Nutshell

Discover the fascinating history of Martian atmospheric chemistry based on data from NASA's Curiosity rover! Explore the groundbreaking discovery out of the University of Copenhagen based on carbon isotope ratios! We'll delve into the findings from Gale crater, where Curiosity unearthed sedimentary organic material with an unusual carbon isotope ratio. Discover how solar UV radiation through photolysis played a crucial role in shaping early Martian chemistry, potentially revealing insights into the origins of life not just on Mars but also on Earth and beyond. Learn the science behind these discoveries while on a fascinating journey through Martian history and its implications for astrobiology.

Citation:

Yuichiro Ueno, Johan A. Schmidt, Matthew S. Johnson, Xiaofeng Zang, Alexis Gilbert, Hiroyuki Kurokawa, Tomohiro Usui, Shohei Aoki. Synthesis of 13C-depleted organic matter from CO in a reducing early Martian atmosphere. Nature Geoscience, 2024; 17 (6): 503 DOI: 10.1038/s41561-024-01443-z

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01443-z

Images:

https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19920

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ALH84001.jpg

https://images.nasa.gov/details-PIA21492

https://science.nasa.gov/resource/curiositys-selfie-at-mont-mercou/