Today’s Solutions: March 28, 2024

An international team of astrobiologists made an exciting discovery last week on Mars where they found the presence of “thiophenes,” special compounds found in coal, crude oil, and white truffles back on Earth. 

The research, published in the Astrobiology journal, explains that thiophenes are made up of two bio-essential elements, carbon and sulfur, but it is possible they were created during meteor impacts which heated sulfates to high temperatures.

The compounds could have been created by bacteria breaking down sulfates some three billion years ago, but the team says it’s too soon to tell for sure. If so, the compounds would indicate the historical presence of life on the red planet. 

The compounds were discovered by the Curiosity rover which analyzes compounds by breaking them down into fragments. The more sophisticated European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin rover, which is set to launch in the near future, does not use this breakdown technique and could provide more concrete answers.

The presence of organisms breaking down elements could be a telltale sign of life, but there will be no definite answers until an astronaut actually examines the compounds up close and in person. This discovery offers potential evidence for life on Mars. It will be exciting to see how the research team pursues this evidence further as space exploration technology advances.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Rowing against the current: Botswana’s women safari guides inspire and empower

In the calm of Botswana's Okavango Delta, where the morning sun creates a golden glow on the water's surface, an amazing metamorphosis is occurring. ...

Read More

The future of healing: 3D printing skin directly onto open wounds

Pennsylvania State University researchers achieved a major medical science breakthrough by being the first team ever to 3D print real human skin tissue directly ...

Read More

These solar-powered barges can scoop up 50 tons of plastic from rivers each day

While removing the plastic waste that currently contaminates the ocean today will be crucial for protecting marine ecosystems, it is arguably more important that ...

Read More

A bold step towards climate action and job creation: The American Climate Corps

The White House announced the creation of the American Climate Corps, a breakthrough program that will transform the climate action landscape. This ambitious project ...

Read More