mars

Martian Organic Molecules Came From Natural “Batteries”
A close-up look at minerals in Martian meteorites shows that complex organic compounds formed not from life, but from electrochemical reactions similar to the ones that occur in a battery.

New Tunable Laser Spectrometer Measures Rare Methane Isotopologues
23 June 2014 Feature
Methane is not only an important energy resource and a major component of biogeochemical cycles,…

New Short Film: The Next Giant Leap
22 April 2014 Feature
A new short film investigates the challenges of sending human missions to Mars, a goal that many…

Nitrogen Concentration in Earth’s Archean Atmosphere
24 September 2013 Feature
Earth plays host to life thanks to numerous unique planetary characteristics, one of which is the…

Low Temperature Rock-Catalyzed Hydrogen Production
11 June 2013 Feature
In the absence of photosynthesis, life faces significant challenges. Despite this, the earliest…

Deep Carbon Research on Earth Informs us about Mars
10 April 2013 Feature
Without liquid water, life is impossible. The search for life on other planets, therefore, is…

Abiotic Methane Formation by Serpentinization
13 February 2013 Feature
Magnetite, chromite, and metal-rich minerals commonly found on olivine surfaces are likely to…

Martian Carbon
15 February 2012 Feature
The source and nature of carbon found in Martian meteorites has been a topic of intense past debate…