Mars rocks reveal organics
New macromolecular carbon hints from Jezero Crater renew hope about ancient Martian life, but definitive proof awaits Earth-bound samples.
minerals
Mineral Clues on Mars Stir Life-Search Debate
Perseverance finds nickel compounds in Martian rocks that resemble Earth’s organic chemistry, but researchers say geology may still beat biology.
How Wood Becomes Stone: The Science of Petrification
Petrified wood, a fossil millions of years old, forms when wood’s biological components are replaced by minerals like silica.