- Organic molecules called thiophenes were also recently discovered on Mars, and scientists think their presence would be consistent with the presence of early life on Mars.
- Thiophenes are found on Earth in coal, crude oil and oddly enough, in white truffles. Thiophene molecules have four carbon atoms and a sulfur atom arranged in a ring, and both carbon and sulfur, are bio-essential elements.
- Meteor impacts provide one possible abiotic explanation. Thiophenes can also be created through thermochemical sulfate reduction, a process that involves a set of compounds being heated to 248 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius) or more.