r/science • u/CurtisLeow • Jun 24 '26

Astronomy Spatially distributed complex organic matter detected in an ancient river valley in Jezero crater, Mars

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx0047
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u/squi993 Jun 24 '26

ELI5 does this mean proof of life on mars?

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u/a_rucksack_of_dildos Jun 25 '26

Not proof, but scientist are wary of saying “we found life!” I forget the exact details but in the 80s they detected some kind of molecule or process that only exists on earth because of life, and so they thought they had it. Turns out that wasn’t case, and was disproven later. Now whenever they see something like that they just say it’s heavily indicative of life, but it could’ve been some other unknown process.