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An unexpected leak of a chemical designed to tag complex organic molecules in samples collected by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity appears to have serendipitously done its job, scientists reported on Tuesday (March 17).
The nuclear-powered mobile science laboratory Curiosity is to rove across the surface of Mars for years, searching for the conditions that may have once made Mars an abode of life.The nuclear-powered mobile science laboratory Curiosity is roving across the surface of Mars for years, searching for the conditions that may have once made Mars an abode of life. Curiosity's onboard laboratory includes seven so-called "wet chemistry" experiments designed to preserve and identify suspect carbon-containing components in samples drilled out from rocks.
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Interesting,the leak is N-methyl-N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide is used in gas chromatography. how they are using the vapors that leaked? Idunno,
google scholar; Abstract
Amino acids and the amino amides glutamine and asparagine can be simulataneously derivatized to the corresponding N,O(S)-tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives in a one-step reaction with N-methyl-N-(tert.-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide in acetonitrile. The solution is used directly for gas chromatography (GC). Losses due to evaporation steps are avoided. Except for the more basic amino acids, derivatization occurs at room temperature
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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They're proving something many of us already know: There's organic compounds everywhere. I'd also be willing to bet there is still algae on mars, it's just a matter of time before we find it.
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yeah, we found life here at hydrothermal vents that uses hydrogen sulfide as food and that chit is poison to us... it should be most anywhere that liquid water and a good assortment of chemicals (that can react with each other) is available....
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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I suspect it's a bit more diverse than that but yes, anywhere there's impure H2O there will/should be life.
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But as you say I am sorry your wife is most likely a very nice person whom you care about as is mine.
and I will never refer to anything but in the future.
-------------------- Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise. Posts: 3827 | From: beautiful California | Registered: Sep 2008
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