NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has found a diverse mix of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals considered building blocks for the origin of life on Earth. The discovery marks the first time a new chemical experiment has been performed on another planet. The rover's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument was able to use a chemical known as tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) to detect organic molecules in the region's clay-rich sandstone. The newly identified chemicals include nitrogen and sulfur-bearing molecules that are similar to the raw material that helped spur Earth's life. However, the experiment cannot determine if these chemicals are from ancient Martian life or non-biological geological processes. The findings could help connect observations from NASA's other Mars missions and potentially identify potentially native Martian organic matter.