more evidence of possible life on Mars

Subject: more evidence of possible life on Mars Sat Jan 17, 2009 2:36 pm

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Methane Could Signal Life On Mars

Evidence of the gas on the Red Planet
raises possibility of biological activity.

By K.C. Jones
InformationWeek
January 16, 2009 01:07 PM

Scientists have found more evidence of possible life on Mars.

NASA announced Thursday that its researchers and university scientists found methane
in the Red Planet's atmosphere. The finding suggests biological or geological activity.

"Methane is quickly destroyed in the Martian atmosphere in a variety of ways, so our discovery
of substantial plumes of methane in the northern hemisphere of Mars in 2003 indicates some
ongoing process is releasing the gas"

Mumma, who authored a paper on the finding for Science Express, said that Mars releases methane
"at a rate comparable to that of the massive hydrocarbon seep at Coal Oil Point in Santa Barbara, Calif.
during its northern midsummer."

Methane is the main component of natural gas.
Most of the Earth's methane comes from living organisms as they digest nutrients.
However, other events, like iron oxidation, can also cause release of the gas.

"Right now, we do not have enough information to tell whether biology or geology --
or both -- is producing the methane on Mars," Mumma explained.

"But it does tell us the planet is still alive, at least in a geologic sense.

It is as if Mars is challenging us, saying, 'Hey, find out what this means.' "

More research is needed to determine whether the methane came from biological or geological sources.

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