The latest evidence comes from an instrument called SHERLOC mounted on the six-wheeled rover's robotic arm that enables a detailed mapping and analysis of organic molecules.
They obtained evidence indicating the presence of organic molecules in multiple rock samples, including some collected for potential return to Earth for future analysis.
Signs of organic molecules were first detected on Mars in 2015 by a different rover called Curiosity, followed by more evidence in subsequent years.
With Perseverance now detecting possible signatures of organic molecules, the evidence is accumulating that organic molecules may be relatively common on Mars, though at low levels.
"There are both biotic and abiotic mechanisms that can form organic molecules.
Persons:
astrobiologist Sunanda Sharma, Sherlock Holmes, WATSON, Ryan Roppel, Roppel, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien
Organizations:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, University, Pittsburgh, Thomson
Locations:
California, Jezero