Scientists from NASA have developed O-PTIR optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy technology, which could be applied to space rock detection in the future. This technology can efficiently distinguish different compositions and sensitively detect organic matter.

NASA's Perseverance rover collected rock samples from an area named "Sapphire Canyon" on Mars in 2024. The samples attracted scientific attention due to their spotted texture. The rocks feature a red mudstone base color with light-colored spots and dark-colored outlines distributed across the surface, resembling leopard-like patterns. Scientists believe these spots may contain key information about Martian organic molecules, making them important subjects for studying Mars' ancient life and organic chemistry.

How can Mars rovers better analyze rock samples in future space exploration scenarios to help find ancient life clues and explore Martian organic chemistry more quickly? Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology have developed O-PTIR optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy technology.

To verify the effectiveness of this analytical method, they selected a basalt sample from Earth that resembles Sapphire Canyon in appearance. During a hiking trip, researcher Nicholas Heinz accidentally discovered this spotted rock in Sedona, Arizona, and brought it back to the laboratory for study.

The team employed "Optical Photothermal Infrared Spectroscopy" (O-PTIR) technology. This method works through the collaboration of two laser beams: the first laser heats the material surface, exciting weak thermal vibrations related to light wavelengths; the second laser measures these vibrational changes, thereby obtaining the material's unique chemical fingerprint.

Research findings show that O-PTIR can distinguish between the rock matrix and dark-colored inclusions with extremely high spatial resolution, requiring only minutes to collect complete spectra, significantly improving analytical efficiency and sensitivity.

O-PTIR technology has not only been applied to cleanliness detection for missions such as the 2024 Europa Clipper, but has also been proven to have greater potential in geological and Mars sample analysis. The research team is collaborating with NASA's Mars Science Group to apply this technology to algae microfossil detection in simulated Martian environments, laying a methodological foundation for searching for life signs after future Mars sample return missions.