NASA's Curiosity rover has reconnected with Earth after its recent solar conjunction. The robotic explorer on Mars resumed full operations around late January and early February 2026. It immediately began a critical and rare experiment to search for organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life.[gadgets360+4]
Rare Chemical Experiment Underway
The rover is now conducting a unique organic chemistry experiment. This test uses Curiosity's last container of a special liquid called tetramethylammonium hydroxide, or TMAH.Scientists mix this chemical with powdered rock samples. This method helps to identify certain carbon-based compounds that standard heating tests might miss.The experiment began on Monday, February 2, 2026.[mashable+3]
Curiosity's onboard lab, called Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM), only carried two small containers of TMAH for its entire mission. The rover used the first one nearly six years ago.Scientists need to be very careful with this final test. They even rehearsed the steps for transferring the rock sample into Curiosity's chemistry lab.[mashable+3]
The new drill location for this experiment is just a few centimeters from a spot called "Nevado Sajama." Curiosity drilled into Nevado Sajama in November 2025.This site contains fine-grained sedimentary rock. Scientists believe this type of rock formed long ago in the presence of water. This makes it a promising place to look for traces of fossilized organic material.[gadgets360+3]
Hunting for Life's Building Blocks
Organic molecules are carbon-based compounds. They are essential ingredients for life as we know it on Earth.If Curiosity finds these organics in ancient Martian rocks, it would greatly increase the chance that Mars once had conditions suitable for small life forms, called microbes.However, finding organics alone does not prove life existed. These molecules can also form through non-biological chemical processes.[jpl+5]
The search for these molecules is challenging. Organic compounds easily break down when exposed to harsh conditions. These include extreme radiation and chemical oxidants on the Martian surface.Scientists believe that organics quickly trapped and buried in layers of mud or sediments had the best chance of being preserved.Curiosity's landing site, Gale Crater, likely contains these special layers from a time when water was present.[jpl+2]
Past Discoveries and Future Hopes
Curiosity has already made significant organic discoveries. In March 2025, scientists announced the detection of the largest organic molecules ever found on Mars.These compounds were decane, undecane, and dodecane. They were found in a 3.7-billion-year-old rock sample called "Cumberland," collected in Yellowknife Bay within Gale Crater.These molecules are fragments of fatty acids. Fatty acids are vital for forming cell membranes in living organisms on Earth.[space+12]
The discovery of these larger compounds suggests that Mars' organic chemistry might have reached a level of complexity needed for life to begin.Dr. Caroline Freissinet, an analytical chemist who led some of the research, noted that if long-chain fatty acids were on Mars, they "could come – and it's only one hypothesis – from membrane degradation of cells present 3.7bn years ago." Shealso stated, "Our study proves that, even today, by analyzing Mars samples we could detect chemical signatures of past life, if it ever existed on Mars."[techexplorist+2]
Ultimately, there are limits to what instruments on Mars can tell us about these molecules. Paul Glavin, NASA's senior scientist for sample return, said, "We are ready to take the next big step and bring Mars samples home to our labs to settle the debate about life on Mars." This future step depends on a mission to retrieve samples, including those cached by Curiosity's sibling rover, Perseverance.[space+3]
Rover's Long Journey Continues
Curiosity has been exploring Mars for over 13 years. As of February 4, 2026, the rover has been active for 4799 Martian days, called sols. It continues to provide valuable data from Gale Crater, a site that once held water. Therover's ongoing mission helps scientists understand Mars' geological history and its potential to have supported life in the past.[orbysa+5]
The successful reconnection after solar conjunction allows Curiosity to continue its groundbreaking work. This includes the crucial final organic chemistry experiment, bringing scientists closer to understanding if life ever existed on the Red Planet.[en]
