NASA’s Curiosity rover resumes work on Mars, conducting chemical tests on sedimentary rocks to search for signs of ancient life.
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| Curiosity’s latest mission targets ancient sedimentary rocks in Gale Crater, potentially uncovering organic molecules and revolutionizing our understanding of Mars. Image: CH |
Science Desk — February 10, 2026:
NASA’s Curiosity rover has resumed operations on Mars following weeks of silence caused by solar conjunction, a period in which the Sun temporarily blocked communication between Earth and the Red Planet. The rover has now reached its next destination, a rock formation named Nevado Sajama, where it will conduct critical chemical experiments aimed at detecting signs of past life.
The rover’s current mission involves wet chemistry tests, in which a powdered sample of Martian rock is combined with a chemical solution called tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide and heated. Curiosity has only nine special experiment containers, eight of which have already been used, making this experiment the rover’s final opportunity to analyze Martian material in this way. To minimize risks, scientists extensively practiced the procedure on Earth before implementation.
Curiosity is operating in the Boxwork area of Gale Crater, a region composed primarily of sedimentary rocks formed billions of years ago in the presence of water. These ancient deposits have long been considered promising sites for the discovery of microbial life, as past water presence is a key ingredient for habitability. Previous drilling near Nevado Sajama revealed promising mineral formations, raising hopes that organic molecules might be preserved within the rock.
Results from the experiment may take months to arrive. If Curiosity detects complex organic molecules, it would mark a groundbreaking milestone in the search for extraterrestrial life and could redefine our understanding of Mars’ history and its potential to have supported life.
By combining precision robotics with decades of planetary science, Curiosity continues to demonstrate how human ingenuity extends our reach across the solar system. Its latest mission underscores the ongoing quest to answer one of humanity’s oldest questions: Are we alone in the universe?