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samples taken from two different drill sites on an ancient lake bed have yielded complex organic molecules that look strikingly similar to the goopy fossilized building blocks of oil

The rover also discovered traces of methane in the Martian atmosphere, ... This is significant because most methane on Earth, for instance, comes from biological sources.

[–] cyclops1771 1 points (+1|-0)

As an adherent to the abiogenesis theory of hydrocarbons everywhere, I wonder if they are claiming they found "organic" material because they found hydrocarbons, or because they found actual molecules suspended in the hydrocarbons? The article wasn't clear to me.

My guess is that is was simply hydrocarbons, otherwise I think this would be reported as a bigger deal. Thats a good point though, the article is pretty vague about that their actual findings were.