Perchorates are compounds of salts and oxygen, and are abundant in Martian soil. A new study suggests they might be hindering the search for life on Mars.
NASA's rover Curiosity heats soil samples to look for organic compounds and possible life. However, when perchorates are heated the oxygen is released, and oxygen destroys some forms of life. So, when Curiosity detects organics and possible life in the soil, there may in fact be more there than is detected.
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