Earth and Planetary Sciences News

Tracing the Origins of Organic Matter in Martian Sediments

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May 14, 2024

Organic matter on Mars may have been formed due to atmospheric processes rather than have biological origin suggests researchers at Tokyo Tech. Using photolysis experiments and theoretical considerations, researchers demonstrate that the organic matter in sediments is formed from carbon monoxide, which originates from the photodissociation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This process results in organic matter with low amounts of carbon-13 isotope, as observed in sediments from the Gale crater on Mars.

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