Sorry.., I ate spicy food last night
Posted on 06/22/2019 4:27:50 PM PDT by BenLurkin
High levels of methane could potentially be generated underground by microbes called methanogens that survive without oxygen and produce the gas as a metabolic byproduct. Project scientist Ashwin R. Vasavada told the Curiosity science team in an email that “Given this surprising result, we’ve reorganized the weekend to run a follow-up experiment,” the Times wrote.
The readings on Wednesday are over three times that of a sudden spike in 2013 that lasted several months; after first finding nothing after its touchdown in 2012, Curiosity detected approximately seven parts per billion of methane later in the year. The newest measurements are 21 parts per billion.
However, it is also possible that the Curiosity rover has simply detected pockets of methane leaking from deep under the surface, the Times wrote, and the readings are only preliminary. When methane was similarly detected on the surface of Mars in 2004, scientists said that the methane could also be generated by geothermal reactions involving water and heat, though the exact mechanism by which that could occur on Mars remained an open question. (Since then, research has suggested Mars may not be as geologically inert as previously thought.)
The Curiosity rover has currently been diverted from its scheduled scientific work to do followup on the methane readings, according to the Times, with more data expected on Monday.
(Excerpt) Read more at gizmodo.com ...
Must be all of f those evil Martian SUV’s polluting the air.
Martian global warming to follow.
Martian farts?
Cowfarts
look for a herd of cows
Martosaurus decomposing.
Cow farts have made it to Mars. Amazing.
This kinda throws all their climate info into the circular file.
;)
More reason why I must give up my SUV.
— Rodney Dangerfield
Martian carbon based industry & vehicles!
Bet it’s all those conservative raygun toting Martian rednecks!
Mars only has 12 years left.
TRUMP’S FAULT!
Ford Cortinas.
Martian Cow Farts.
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