NASA's Curiosity rover finds large organic molecules on Mars, hinting at past complex chemistry.

NASA's Curiosity rover has detected the largest organic molecules ever found on Mars, including decane, undecane, and dodecane, in ancient mudstone samples. These molecules, up to 12 carbon atoms long, resemble fatty acids found on Earth and could indicate advanced organic chemistry on Mars. While they could have formed through non-biological processes, their discovery, published in PNAS, suggests organic signatures could be preserved on Mars, supporting future missions aimed at finding signs of ancient life.