On December 16th 2014, NASA announced that its Curiosity Rover had discovered organic molecules in an ancient rock on the surface of Mars. The molecules which consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are the building blocks of life on Earth. NASA further stated that this is not necessarily an indication of life previously existing on Mars, as the same molecules can be created from chemical processes that do not involve life.
NASA also announced that Curiosity had detected a momentary increase in methane in the Martian atmosphere. Methane is a common gas found on Earth and is produced in good quantities by people and animals. The presence of methane could be an indication of possible life on Mars, in the past or present. However, NASA feels that it is too soon to consider the temporary spike in methane as proof that micro organisms, which also produce methane, are a possible cause.
In another report, NASA revealed that Curiosity had also discovered water molecules in a Martian rock sample. The rock, called Cumberland was drilled into and analyzed by Curiosity's SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) equipment. It is believed that the water molecules were bound into the rock some three billion years ago and were freed when heated by the SAM analysis.
Though all of the recent findings made by the Curiosity Rover may not mean that life exists, or ever existed on Mars, they are none the less, fascinating at best.
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