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Methane Survey Reveals Mars Is Far From 'Dead'

Posted by Soulskill on from the mars-has-a-secret-cow-level dept.

astroengine writes "The first planet-wide studies of methane on Mars — incorporating billions of measurements made by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft — shows gas concentrations peak in autumn and plummet in winter. Scientists have found significantly higher methane concentrations in the Tharsis, Elysium and Arabia Terrae regions. Tharsis and Elysium are home to Mars' most massive volcanoes and Arabia Terrae has large quantities of subterranean frozen water. This indicates the gas could be generated by geological or biological activity. 'It could be geology or biology, but it is not coming from another source. There is a seasonal pattern, so it could only be a local origin,' Sergio Fonti, with Italy's Universita del Salento, told Discovery News."

12 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. Good news by 2names · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm glad they found this type of cyclic activity. The sooner we find complex life off-Earth the better.

    --
    "I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
    1. Re:Good news by saider · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It would be another step back from the "we-are-the-sole-reason-for-the-universe's-existence" mindset. Reducing humanities self-centered leanings leaves some more room for a "we-are-a-part-of-the-universe" attitude that tends to promote a more responsible approach to resource management.

      --


      Remember, You are unique...just like everyone else.
    2. Re:Good news by Tumbleweed · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It would be another step back from the "we-are-the-sole-reason-for-the-universe's-existence" mindset. Reducing humanities self-centered leanings leaves some more room for a "we-are-a-part-of-the-universe" attitude that tends to promote a more responsible approach to resource management.

      I don't think that would have the impact your hoping for unless it was intelligent life that was more technologically advanced than us. Anything less would be treated just like Western civilization treated (and continues to treat) less advanced societies and life forms. "God made the universe for white guys who claim to be Christian," etc.

    3. Re:Good news by Schemat1c · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's not obvious to me why it's good for us to find complex off-Earth life. Unless it's a technology advanced species that can help us with our problems, I don't see any benefit to finding complex off-Earth life at all. What am I missing?

      Hmm, here are a few reasons: The Vatican, Jerusalem, Mecca, the southern half of the United States, etc.

      --

      "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown
    4. Re:Good news by severoon · · Score: 2, Insightful

      From TFA: "'It could be geology or biology, but it is not coming from another source. There is a seasonal pattern, so it could only be a local origin,' Sergio Fonti, with Italy's Universita del Salento, told Discovery News."

      To paraphrase: "It is geology."

      --
      but have you considered the following argument: shut up.
  2. Nice way to narrow it down. by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 3, Insightful

    FTFA: 'It could be geology or biology, but it is not coming from another source.'

    Another source like what? Comets hitting the planet? Isn't geology pretty freaking broad for a category?

    That's like looking at a rock on the Earth and saying "Well, we are pretty sure that it either formed here on earth, or it is a meteorite."

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    Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
    1. Re:Nice way to narrow it down. by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Both are big deals - Mars isn't believed to be geologically active, and life would be a massively interesting find for obvious reasons.
      The seasonality rules out explanations like cosmic rays generating methane.

      That's a fair response. I just thought it was fairly broad since I subconsciously eliminated the cosmic ray option since they did mention seasonality.

      Ignoring the biological aspect for a moment. Geological just seems so damned broad as to incorporate pretty much everything on a planet. If it were a Jovian moon, I'd consider it less broad of a suggestion since you would then be eliminating seasonal influences from Jupiter in stating that it was just geological.

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      Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
  3. Re:OH COME ON by arth1 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think it's pretty certain that there is life on Mars now, as NASA didn't take any extraordinary measures to eradicate all possible forms of life from the probes until 1995 and the Mars Orbiter. Earlier, a memo was issued, but not much was done. Up to 10^5 possibly surviving microbes were permissible on the earlier crafts, if I remember correctly.

    It's a shame, as the planet can never be uncontaminated and studied as a truly lifeless planet.

  4. Re:OH COME ON by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If life is responsible for the seasonal methane fluctuations, I doubt very much that it could be explained by anything hitching a ride on our spacecraft.

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    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  5. No Uranus jokes?? by MooseTick · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I can't believe an article about space, biology, and methane has no comments about Uranus. Slashdot has let me down again.

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    Ninjas don't carry tic tacs
  6. Biological vs Geological by PPH · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually, 'biological' should be 'current biological'.

    Grab a sample of Martian methane and check its distribution of carbon isotopes. Carbon sequestered thousands or millions of years ago should have different ratios from atmospheric sources (the principle of carbon dating). Current biological activity should reflect the ratios of the existing carbon sources.

    Of course, if underground life is munching on 'old' carbon, its farts will look old as well. Just as old as CH4 sequestered a long time ago and leaking to the surface only now.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  7. Seasonal meteorite showers, anyone? by kiwix · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The seasonality doesn't really rule out an external source. On Earth we have seasonal meteorite showers, I guess they could have the same on Mars.