ScienceJuly 13, 2026
perchlorate
/pərˈklɔːreɪt/
Definition
A chemical compound containing the perchlorate ion, found naturally in the Martian soil (regolith) and acting as a toxic obstacle to plant growth.
Etymology
The word is a chemical combination of the prefix 'per-' (meaning thoroughly or to the maximum extent) and 'chlorate' (a salt or ester of chloric acid). It was coined in 19th-century chemistry to denote a chemical with a higher proportion of oxygen than a corresponding chlorate.
In the news
In this article, perchlorate is identified as a harmful contaminant in Martian regolith that must be removed through biological strategies to enable future space agriculture and life support systems.
NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,207 10 July 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)
Read the full article ↗Astrobiology Web