SHERLOC finds life on Mars?

NASA's Perseverance Rover, during its first 400 days on Mars, has potentially uncovered a diverse collection of organics, the carbon-based molecules essential for life. This discovery was made possible by SHERLOC, an innovative instrument on the rover's robotic arm, which helps scientists decide if a sample is worth collecting. SHERLOC uses a unique technique to analyze the chemical composition of rocks by scattering light and providing a spectral "fingerprint" of different molecules. The data gathered from SHERLOC's analysis has been promising, raising the interest of scientists. As the rover aims to find evidence of ancient microbial life, it will continue to collect representative rock samples, providing a comprehensive understanding of the environment in which they formed. Perseverance's mission is an important step in preparing for future human exploration of Mars and the eventual return of Martian rock and regolith samples to Earth.