NASA discovers organic carbon on Mars, strengthening evidence for past life

NASA's Perseverance rover analyzed rocks in Jezero Crater’s Bright Angel formation and identified macro‑molecular carbon (MMC) using its SHERLOC laser spectrometer. The organic carbon was found just a few micrometres beneath the surface, a depth that protects it from Mars’ harsh radiation and oxidation.

Scientists said the carbon could originate from ancient microbial life or from abiotic geological processes, and that definitive conclusions will require laboratory analysis of returned rock samples. The findings were published in Science Advances and are part of NASA’s ongoing effort to assess Mars’ habitability, with sample‑return missions planned for 2025.