August 2012 arrival of the Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars discovered the most valuable samples. The sample of rock contains 20 to 30% of the gray-green rock powder that composed of the clay mineral smectite, which forms in water.1 This hinted that ancient Mars had a watery, moderate pH environment that would have been hospitable to organism.2 The Curiosity team still searches for environments that might have provided more protection for organic compounds.3
Touch down: Curiosity collected rock samples on Mars near
 its landing site in an ancient lake bed. 
Source: Wilson, E.

The National Aeronautics & Space Administration’s Curiosity martian rover landed on Mars and collected samples of environment. The sample, a sedimentary rock bed known as Yellowknife Bay yielded was analyzed that the powered rock samples may be combustion products of organic molecules. This is because the sample rock contains oxychlorine compounds related to perchlorate which could react with organics. The NO finding represents the first detection in a martian rock of nitrogen, an element required by all life forms. Curiosity is currently searching for location and environments that might have provided more protection for organic compounds.3
A panorama of Yellowknife Bay, where Curiosity found nitrogen and simple chlorocarbons. Source: Wilson, E.


Sources
1. Wilson, Elizabeth K. Curiosity Finds A Hospitable Mars. C&EN. [Online] 2013, 91, 11. http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i11/Curiosity-Finds-Hospitable-Mars.html (accessed Apr 10, 2014)
2. Wilson, Elizabeth K. Answering Curiosity Questions on Mars. C&EN. [Online] 2013, 91, 39. http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i39/Answering-Curiosity-Questions-Mars.html (accessed Apr 10, 2014)
3. Wilson, Elizabeth K. Mars Rover Switches Gears. C&EN. [Online] 2013, 91, 50. http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i50/Mars-Rover-Switches-Gears.html (accessed Apr 10, 2014)


Written by Joanne Lee