Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJulia MustoThursday 25 June 2026 21:29 BSTRelated: Life on Mars? NASA's Rover finds strong signNASA's Perseverance Mars rover discovered complex carbon, a fundamental building block of life, within two Martian mudstones collected from the Jezero crater's Bright Angel rock formation.This finding marks the most robust organic detection in the Jezero crater to date and is the only known instance of macromolecular carbon found on a natural rock surface on Mars.The mudstones were retrieved from the identical location where the rover previously identified potential biosignatures, strengthening the possibility of ancient life on the Red Planet.Scientists are currently unable to ascertain whether the organic carbon originated from biological processes or non-living sources such as meteorites or hydrothermal reactions.These samples are among dozens collected by Perseverance that are slated for return to Earth for comprehensive analysis, with a potential return timeline estimated between 2035 and 2039.In fullNASA’s Mars rover just found more evidence the planet may have sustained lifeThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in