Story perspectives

Perseverance Detects Macromolecular Carbon on Jezero Mudstones

6/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Perseverance’s SHERLOC instrument detected macromolecular carbon on two mudstones in Jezero Crater’s Bright Angel outcrop, the first such finding outside Gale Crater.
One rock pairs carbon with silicates while the other pairs it with carbonates and sulfates.
SHERLOC’s laser spectroscopy mapped hundreds of organic signatures, confirming macromolecular carbon.
Scientists say the findings imply widespread ancient organics and will analyze returned samples to decide if the carbon is biotic or abiotic.

History

Historical Context

In 1976 Viking 1 and 2 landed on Mars and their gas-chromatograph-mass spectrometer found no organic molecules, leading scientists to deem the surface sterile. Decades later Phoenix discovered perchlorate in 2008, explaining the missing organics, and Perseverance’s SHERLOC instrument (2021) has now mapped macromolecular carbon in Jezero Crater, reviving the search for biosignatures.

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Story summary

Perseverance’s SHERLOC instrument detected macromolecular carbon on two mudstones in Jezero Crater’s Bright Angel outcrop, the first such finding outside Gale Crater.
One rock pairs carbon with silicates while the other pairs it with carbonates and sulfates.
SHERLOC’s laser spectroscopy mapped hundreds of organic signatures, confirming macromolecular carbon.
Scientists say the findings imply widespread ancient organics and will analyze returned samples to decide if the carbon is biotic or abiotic.

1 / 2