Posted on 12/16/2014 11:00:01 AM PST by Red Badger
Unexplained methane spikes suggest bacteria is living on the red planet
Nasa scientists in California have revealed evidence for life on Mars They say methane spikes on the planet could be produced by bacteria And, at the moment, there is no better explanation for the spikes The signs were spotted briefly occurring by one of Curiosity's instruments Life is the chief producer of methane on Earth, although there are many non-biological processes that can also generate the gas But no such process could be ruled out during tests - suggesting there may be bacteria living on or under the surface of Mars In the past few months, conclusive evidence has been found that Mars once had water on its surface, but one greater question remains: Was there, or is there still, life on Mars as well?
Scientists may be on the brink of answering that question with an equally conclusive 'yes', as convincing evidence has been detected by Nasa's Curiosity rover.
An instrument on the rover identified spikes of methane that scientists believe may have come from bacteria-like organisms on the surface - and it could be the first alien life ever detected.
Previous satellite observations have detected unusual plumes of methane on the planet.
But none of these previous readings are as extraordinary as the sudden 'venting' measured at Gale Crater, where evidence suggests water once flowed billions of years ago.
Curiosity landed in the 96 mile-wide (154km) crater in August 2012 and has been exploring the region ever since.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Nasa scientists in California have revealed evidence that suggests there is life on Mars based on readings taken by the Curiosity rover (shown). They say methane spikes on the planet could be produced by bacteria. And at the moment there is no alternative explanation for the spikes
SPACE ping!......................
I have a mental image of an astronaut on Mars with a defective space suit holding a sign “I can’t breathe!”.
It’s giant sand worm farts, gotta be. Sand worm mobility explains the spikes. A shoot and scoot kind of thing.
“STOP METHANE NOW!”
“STOP METHANE NOW!”
I’ve never understood why they don’t have a powerfull microscope on board to look for life and prove it beyond doubt.
Metors carry organic material? From where?
Yes, the presence of scientific devices is proof that on Mars, there is evidence of life.
Since Mars is no longer pristine (having been visited by numerous probes) couldn’t any bacteria have hitched a ride on one of the probes? That’s what scientists twenty years ago said about a Martian meteorite found in Antarctica. Remember? Slick Willie even said that they had found evidence of fossilized life in the meteorite from Mars. Now, he didn’t graduate from East Anglia University—but, his word is as good as the Gospel!
But that methane has always been there, not a spike. There are other processes that produce methane.
great question
No.
This discovery might be evidence of life on Mats, but Evidence of something should never be confused with proof.
No significant oxygen. Without oxygen, methane is the lowest energy state for the existence of carbon and hydrogen.
Here on earth, the presence of oxygen takes them down to CO2 and H2O, unless an outside source, like a biological process, chemically combines them into a higher energy state. This allows us to use them as fuel.
And it stays alive at extreme hot temperatures (above boiling point of water) and lows near or at absolute 0?
Now if I could just remember that!
Thanks, thackney.
I did a paper in college on interstellar chemistry.
Organic material had been detected in 1982 (when I wrote the paper)
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