Perseverance Finds Complex Carbon in Martian Mudstones, Sparks Life-Biosignature Debate

NASA’s Perseverance rover detected hundreds of organic macromolecules inside two mudstones in Jezero Crater using SHERLOC, marking the strongest organic signal yet from Martian rocks. While the findings boost the possibility that ancient Mars could have hosted life, scientists caution the carbon could also form through non-biological processes, and the rover’s instruments can’t confirm biotic origin. The study, published in Science Advances, complements a prior potential biosignature at Cheyava Falls and suggests organics may have been widespread on early Mars, though more testing and sample return are needed.