The scientists of NASA have come out with a major discovery. They have detected large quantities of methane gas on the Red Planet. According to them, this shows a possibility of biological or geological activity on Mars.
Astro-biologist Sushil Atreya thinks of two possibilities on the availability of methane on Mars. He says, "Either it's geology, in which case it's the reaction between water and rock, or it is biology, in which case the microbes are producing the methane."
Methane was first detected in Mars as early as 2003 by scientists using Earth-based telescopes. Scientists say that one plume of Martian methane contained nearly 19-thousand tons of the gas.
In the Martian atmosphere, methane is quickly destroyed. The detection of plumes of methane is, therefore, significant. NASA's Michael Mumma says, "Mars is active. Now whether or not it is because of geology, or biology, or both, we don't know."
Scientists have detected seasonal variations of methane emissions over the planet's northern hemisphere.
Physicist Geronimo Villanueva of Catholic University in Washington says the gas plumes were emitted during the northern Martian spring and summer. He has said, "One of the most important, striking, things about the discovery is that the regions where we see methane are regions that have a lot of rich history. For example, these regions show evidence that waters once flowed over them, and this is very important because if the water is still available below the surface, some activity -- geology, biology -- could be using them."
The question of existence of life form anywhere in the Universe other than this world has been persisting in the minds of the scientists for a long time. The general opinion is that even if life exists in some other planet in the Universe, it could only be the lower forms like insects.
It has been for long a matter for debate among the scientists, whether reports of methane deposits on Mars were real. But now, Geologist Lisa Pratt has said that the scientists have the evidence needed to consider the possibility of life on the Red Planet. She says, "It's time; it is prudent that we begin to explore Mars, looking for the possibility of a life form that is exhaling methane." But Pratt is of the view that at most, the life form in Mars could be a very thin, nearly invisible film of microbes deep underground.
The proposals for launching the Mars Science Laboratory in 2011 are under way. Let us hope that it could provide more detailed analysis on the presence of methane and life forms on the planet Mars.
Sourcehttp://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=21A63F2:F7F0B63DAB0DE8EEFFE1DAA67D4C425D0531BB26A5003E7B&
Astro-biologist Sushil Atreya thinks of two possibilities on the availability of methane on Mars. He says, "Either it's geology, in which case it's the reaction between water and rock, or it is biology, in which case the microbes are producing the methane."
Methane was first detected in Mars as early as 2003 by scientists using Earth-based telescopes. Scientists say that one plume of Martian methane contained nearly 19-thousand tons of the gas.
In the Martian atmosphere, methane is quickly destroyed. The detection of plumes of methane is, therefore, significant. NASA's Michael Mumma says, "Mars is active. Now whether or not it is because of geology, or biology, or both, we don't know."
Scientists have detected seasonal variations of methane emissions over the planet's northern hemisphere.
Physicist Geronimo Villanueva of Catholic University in Washington says the gas plumes were emitted during the northern Martian spring and summer. He has said, "One of the most important, striking, things about the discovery is that the regions where we see methane are regions that have a lot of rich history. For example, these regions show evidence that waters once flowed over them, and this is very important because if the water is still available below the surface, some activity -- geology, biology -- could be using them."
The question of existence of life form anywhere in the Universe other than this world has been persisting in the minds of the scientists for a long time. The general opinion is that even if life exists in some other planet in the Universe, it could only be the lower forms like insects.
It has been for long a matter for debate among the scientists, whether reports of methane deposits on Mars were real. But now, Geologist Lisa Pratt has said that the scientists have the evidence needed to consider the possibility of life on the Red Planet. She says, "It's time; it is prudent that we begin to explore Mars, looking for the possibility of a life form that is exhaling methane." But Pratt is of the view that at most, the life form in Mars could be a very thin, nearly invisible film of microbes deep underground.
The proposals for launching the Mars Science Laboratory in 2011 are under way. Let us hope that it could provide more detailed analysis on the presence of methane and life forms on the planet Mars.
Sourcehttp://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=21A63F2:F7F0B63DAB0DE8EEFFE1DAA67D4C425D0531BB26A5003E7B&
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