The Curiosity rover has discovered the most diverse array of organic molecules ever found on Mars, including seven that had never been detected before. The discovery came from a first-of-its-kind experiment where the rover dissolved a rock sample in a chemical solution to reveal its composition. The research team believes these organic molecules have been preserved on Mars for 3.5 billion years and support the idea that Mars was once habitable. The experiment was not designed to distinguish whether the molecules were signs of ancient life, or if they were simply the result of geologic processes. The findings support the search for habitable environments on Mars.