According to Space, this unusual object is believed to have originated from an event on Mars, possibly a collision or ejection from the planet, and it fell to Earth 11 years ago.
New research led by Dr. Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin from the Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Munich (Germany) shows that it is indeed an unusual object in the literal sense, as it contains a remarkably unique composition compared to other meteorites found on Earth.
The unusual object that fell in Morocco 11 years ago has components that serve as a “roadmap” to extraterrestrial life that humanity has always dreamed of discovering – (Photo: Natural History Museum Vienna)
Specifically, they found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic magnesium compounds, branched aliphatic carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and olefins in the meteorite.
This unusual object, known as Tissint, is one of the five precious Martian meteorites discovered on Earth.
The organic molecules it contains not only offer a glimpse into the potential for extraterrestrial life, but the manner in which this meteorite was formed reveals many new details about the planet.
Particular interest has been focused on the organic magnesium molecules, which had not been found before, even by NASA’s robots working on Mars. These molecules provide new insights into high-temperature, high-pressure geochemistry that formed the interior layers of Mars, as well as the relationship between the carbon cycle and the evolution of these minerals.
“Understanding the processes and sequences of events that formed this rich organic resource will reveal new details about Mars’s habitability and the potential for reactions that could lead to the formation of life,” confirmed co-author Andrew Steele from the Carnegie Institution (USA).
This discovery also helps the authors refine the catalog of what constitutes Mars, a planet thought to have originated similarly to Earth. This data not only enhances our understanding of Earth but also provides a good direction for future Mars missions.
Researchers are continuing to explore the Morocco meteorite and its “treasures,” while also looking forward to another piece of the puzzle that NASA promises to bring back from Mars in the coming years – rock and soil samples directly from the Red Planet that its robots are currently collecting.
The study was recently published in Science Advances.
