Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important molecules.

ABSTRACT: Formaldehyde (H₂CO) is a critical precursor for the abiotic formation of biomolecules, including amino acids and sugars, which are the building blocks of proteins and RNA. Geomorphological and geochemical evidence on Mars indicates a temperate environment compatible with the existence of surface liquid water during its early history at 3.8-3.6 billion years ago (Ga), which was maintained by the warming effect of reducing gases, such as H₂. However, it remains uncertain whether such a temperate and weakly reducing surface environment on early Mars was suitable for producing H₂CO. In this study, we investigated the atmospheric production of H₂CO on early Mars using a 1-D photochemical model assuming a thick CO₂-dominated atmosphere with

SUBMITTER: Koyama S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10858170 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature