The rock fragments were heated to more than 900 degrees Fahrenheit, and the rover’s instruments looked at the molecules that wafted away at the high temperatures. The analysis was complicated in part because a cup of solvent within the rover’s mobile laboratory had leaked, contributing misleading signals. “If we weren’t sure, we removed it,” Dr. Eigenbrode said. “What they show is that organics were present early on in Mars.”Intriguingly, the organics Dr. Eigenbrode and her colleagues detected looked like they were pieces that came from more complex material. “It's on the table with all the other ones,” Dr. Eigenbrode said.

Source: New York Times June 07, 2018 19:22 UTC