#organics

#organics

While sampling ancient, dry riverbed rocks on Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover found something astonishing. An unusual rock contained organic, carbon-bearing minerals. Reaction fronts were enriched with iron, phosphorous, and sulfurous compounds. That organic carbon must have participated in post-depositional reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions. Many call this a potential biosignature, accompanied by extraordinary claims about Martian life. But finding "organics" anywhere says little-to-nothing about life.