Mars researchers map ancient formaldehyde distribution

A research team led by scientists from Tohoku University, the Earth-Life Science Institute, and the Institute of Science Tokyo has developed a global map simulating the distribution of formaldehyde on ancient Mars. The study, published in The Planetary Science Journal, focuses on the period approximately 3.6 to 3.8 billion years ago when the planet may have experienced warm, wet spells.

Formaldehyde (H2CO) is a critical chemical because, when delivered to water, it can trigger reactions that produce sugars, amino acids, and other complex organic molecules essential for life. The researchers used computer models to show that formaldehyde production was driven by humidity; UV light broke apart water molecules to release reactive hydrogen, which then combined with other elements to form the chemical.

The simulation reveals that formaldehyde delivery was highly uneven, varying by a hundredfold across the planet. Regions near Elysium Mons and the Tharsis region received roughly ten times the global average. Interestingly, the landing sites for NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers received less than the global average, though the researchers noted that the supply in those areas could still have contributed to the organic matter previously discovered there.