What can create organic molecules besides living organisms?
Chapter 1

The watery past of Mars

Chapter 2

Robotic detectives on the red planet

Chapter 3

Biosignatures and the clues of life

Chapter 4

Earthly twins and extreme environments

Chapter 5

Bringing Mars back to Earth

YOUR GOAL

Master of The search for Martian life

Ch 3 · Biosignatures and the clues of life
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artiteacher Stromatolites as ancient guidebooks

Jul 11

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artiteacher Biosignatures

Signs of life! (Signs of life!) We found the spots on Cheyava Falls!

Jul 10

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artiteacher The mystery of Martian methane

Jul 11

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Stromatolites as ancient guidebooks

artiteacher Earth's oldest fossils show scientists what Martian microbial life might look like.

Jul 10

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The mystery of Martian methane

artiteacher Plumes of methane gas on Mars spark intense debate about underground life.

Jul 10

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Mars Life Finder
BETA

artiteacher Mars Life Finder

Jul 10

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Fun Fact

Fossilized rock patterns: Stromatolites on Earth are built by blue-green algae and represent some of the oldest physical evidence of life on our planet.

Jul 10

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Glossary
biosignature (noun)
Any substance, structure, or pattern that provides scientific evidence of past or present life. NASA's Perseverance rover collected Martian rock samples containing these potential organic markers at Jezero Crater.

Jul 10

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Gossip

How would you react to finding Martian microbes?

Jul 10

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Quiz

What can create organic molecules besides living organisms?

Jul 10

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artiteacher Deciphering the code of biosignatures

Jul 11

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Quiz

What is a scientific pattern or substance indicating past life called?

Jul 10

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artiteacher The building blocks of organic molecules

Jul 11

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Quiz

What chemical element forms the backbone of organic molecules?

Jul 10

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Quiz

Which of these is NOT a guaranteed sign of life on Mars?

Jul 10

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Quiz

In what type of rock did Curiosity find 3-billion-year-old organic molecules?

Jul 10

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Quiz

Why does methane gas in the Martian atmosphere puzzle scientists?

Jul 10

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Quiz

What are layered rock structures built by ancient Earth microbes called?

Jul 10

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Quiz

How old are the oldest stromatolite fossils found on Earth?

Jul 10