This image of a region inside the Jezero de Marte crater, known as Cheyava Falls, was taken with the Mastcam-Z Chamber of Perseverance of NASA. The drilling well, on the left, shows where a sample was collected on July 21, 2024, while the image was taken two days later. There is some suggestive evidence that the processes of life may have created some of the characteristics discovered in this rock, but the evidence is not conclusive.. (Credit: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSS)
The red planet, Mars, may have been full of life, as is the earth today. However, finding “organic” on Mars does not mean life.
The rock shown here, discovered by NASA’s perseverance rover on Mars, contains leopard points in a reddish rock located in the Jezero Crater of Mars in July 2024. Sample analysis indicated organic molecules and reactions of reduction/oxidation, which could serve as a potential biosignura. However, abiotic pathways to the production of these characteristics cannot be ruled out so far. (Credit: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSS)
An unusual rock contained organic minerals that support carbon.
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This figure shows an aerial vision of the exploration path made by the NASA perseverance rover, including the important regions of brilliant angels and the Masonic temple, which includes some unusual rock formations that justified a greater investigation. Next, the view of that same region is shown in a panoramic view of NASA perseverance. (Credit: JA Hurowitz et al., Nature, 2025)
The reaction fronts were enriched with iron, phosphorus and sulphides compounds.
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This four -panel graph shows the reduction/oxidation processes that occurred in the bright regions of the angel and the Masonic temple inside the Jezero crater, as explored by NASA’s perseverance rover. The discovery of organic molecules and these sets of reactions insinuate, but do not prove the possible presence of ancient biological activity on Mars. (Credit: JA Hurowitz et al., Nature, 2025)
