[saintgimp]

The article uses the word "organic" in a highly technical manner, meaning chemical compounds that contain carbon, and of course we already know that space is filled with that sort of thing. It does NOT mean "organic" in the casual sense of originating from something alive.

[greglindahl]

"Organic chemistry" is a very common usage of organic in that "contains carbon" sense.

[wyattpeak]

For sure, it's entirely appropriate for the abstract, but it bears pointing out to an audience who might not be familiar with that usage.

[mpoteat]

They do mean it that way, though. They mention the possibility of extinct life on Mars in the last paragraph highlight.

[rebuilder]

They mention their finding "highlights the challenges in store for the research for trace of extinct life in Mars.", which seems different to me.

[_bxg1]

As a layman I guessed as much, but wasn't positive. Clickbaity title.

[pugworthy]

Not really - makes a ton of sense if you're an organic chemist.

[notabit]

I’m not an organic chemist or a chemist of any sorts, and the headline didn’t phase me at all or stick out as clickbait. I knew exactly what it meant though to be fair “o chem” was a common course among my friends majoring in things like bio-*.

[raverbashing]

Typical layman response, expecting niche articles to be dumbed down to them