Curiosity rover detects nitrogen, supports research that Mars was once habitable

TORONTO – The Mars rover Curiosity has found yet more supporting evidence that the red planet was once habitable.

Using its Sample Analysis Instrument, the rover detected nitrogen on the planet’s surface after it heated some of the surrounding sediments.

The nitrogen was found in the form of nitric oxide, which could be released as the nitrates break down while they are heated.

As far as we know it, nitrogen is a necessary ingredient for all forms of life. That’s because they are used in DNA and RNA, considered the building blocks of life.

The researchers believe that the type of nitrogen that was found is ancient, likely created by non-biological processes such meteorite impacts and possibly lightning.

Combined with recent findings that Mars likely possessed liquid water and organic matter, astronomers are getting a better picture of what this now seemingly barren planet once looked like.

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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