A global research team led by the Technical University of Munich looked into a Martian meteorite known as Tissint. This meteorite landed close to the Moroccan village of Tissint on July 18, 2011. Science Alert notes how meteorite pieces were spotted as far as 50 kilometers from the area.
Diverse Proliferation of Organic Compounds
Their study was included in the Science Advances publication. What makes the Martian meteorite particularly unique is that it is filled with a remarkable diversity of organic compounds. The presence of these compounds could help specialists know more about whether life indeed existed on the Red Planet. It also sheds light on the earth's geologic history.
Lead author Dr. Philippe Schmitt-Koppline, the Analytical Biochemistry research unit director at the university, notes that both earth and mars have common evolutionary aspects. He notes that though life has sprung and thrived on earth, the mystery regarding whether life was present on earth is a trendy research topic that requires more data regarding Mars' organic molecules, reactive surfaces, and water.
According to Science Daily, organic molecules hold hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and possibly other elements as well. Organic compounds are typically linked to life, though previous studies have shown that these may also result from non-biological processes or abiotic organic chemistry.
Dr. Andrew Steel, study co-author, staff scientist from Carnegie Science, and member of the Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group, notes that knowing the process and event sequences that affected this organic abundance reveals new insight regarding the red planet's habitability. It also potentially sheds light on the reactions that may lead to life formation.
The researchers looked into the organic composition of Tissint and discovered that there is a great abundance and diverse chemistry of complex molecules. They also discovered great levels of organic magnesium compounds that were not previously seen in Martian samples. Such a new observation could shed light on the geochemical processes that affected the interior of Mars while potentially creating a connection between the planet's carbon cycle and mineral evolution.
The incoming Mars Sample Return mission of NASA could grant more insight regarding the red planet's mineral and organic composition. Dr. Schmitt-Kopplin notes that this mission could be on par with the Hayabusa2 of Japan.
Martian Meteorite Tissint
Science Alert notes that Tissint weighs 7 kilograms and is the fifth space rock that was classified to originate from the red planet. A 2012 study also projected that the meteorite was ejected by the red planet around 700,000 years ago, though Live Science reports that it may have formed on Mars hundreds of millions of years ago.
The meteorite's expulsion could have been due to a violent occurrence of some sort.
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