Photo: Building Blocks of Life Formed on Early Mars?

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


A chunk of 4.5-billion-year-old Martian rock was found in 1984 in the Allan Hills region of Antarctica. The meteorite contains organic compounds—the building blocks of life.

New analysis of the rock, dubbed Allan Hills 84001, offers the first evidence that the organics were formed on Mars by volcanic activity and were not, as has long been thought, transported to the red planet by meteorites.

Photograph courtesy NASA

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Photos and News of the Week

Get the top photos and news of the week from National Geographic News, plus occasional breaking-news alerts.

See Sample >>
Please enter a valid email address
Privacy Policy

MOST VIEWED NEWS

Total Solar Eclipse on August 1: Where, How to See It

PHOTOS: Rare Mummy Found With Strange Artifacts, Tattoo

PHOTOS: Over 100 "Quake Dogs" Get Medical Aid in China
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

Photo and Headline Widget

Put our latest news and photos on your Web page or desktop—automatically updates! See Sample
Download Widget