NASA Mars Rover Curiosity Discovers the First Organic Molecules on the Red Planet (VIDEO)

NASA's Curiosity rover has made a startling discovery. It's found the first organic molecules on the Red Planet. The findings could mean that there was once life on the planet--or could simply be the result of chemical reactions.

The surface of Mars is currently inhospitable to life as we know it. But as Curiosity continues to roam the planet, it's found evidence that past conditions may not have been so harsh. In fact, it's possible that Mars once had a climate that could have supported life billions of years ago. The rover has found features resembling dry riverbeds and minerals that only form in the presence of liquid water.

The newly discovered organic molecules were found in a drilled sample of the Sheepbed mudstone in Gale crater, which was the landing site for the Curiosity rover. Scientists believe that the crater was once the site of a lake billions of years ago, and that rocks like mudstone formed from sediment in the lake. What's more interesting is that this mudstone contains 20 percent smectite clays. On Earth, these clays are known to provide high surface area and optimal interlayer sites for the concentration and preservation of organic compounds.

The researchers can't conclude that there was life at Gale crater. However, the findings do show that organic molecules were present.

"We think life began on Earth around 3.8 billion years ago, and our result shows that places on Mars had the same conditions at that time-liquid water, a warm environment, and organic matter," said Caroline Freissinet of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, in a news release. "So if life emerged on Earth in these conditions, why not on Mars as well?"

The findings reveal the possibility that life could have been present on Mars. That said, Curiosity will have to make further discoveries before scientists draw any further conclusions. Currently, the researchers plan to use the rover to continue their search for organic molecules on the Red Planet.

Want to learn more? Check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.

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