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Sean McMahon, Reader in Astrobiology, The University of Edinburgh

Has Nasa found evidence of ancient life of Mars? An expert examines the latest discovery

Close up of the Cheyava Falls rock on Mars. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Nasa has announced the first detection of possible biosignatures in a rock on the surface of Mars. The rock contains the first martian organic matter to be detected by the Perseverance rover, as well as curious discoloured spots that could indicate the past activity of microorganisms.

Ken Farley, project scientist on the mission, has called this “the most puzzling, complex, and potentially important rock yet investigated by Perseverance”.

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