Submitted via IRC for Bytram
NASA's Curiosity rover makes surprising methane discovery on Mars
NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity, has detected the largest amount of methane yet measured during its seven years on the Red Planet. It's a particularly riveting discovery because the methane levels discovered by the rover are about three times higher than previous detections, leading to some speculation the gas may be biological in origin.
A report by the New York Times on Saturday first revealed the curious finding after obtaining an internal email from Ashwin Vasavada, a project scientist on the mission. On Sunday, NASA released a statement confirming the discovery, explaining how Curiosity's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite of instruments had detected methane at 21 parts per billion units by volume -- much higher than ever before.
[...] Scientists have detected hints of methane on the surface of Mars in the past, including as far back as the Viking missions in the 1970s. Thus, the discovery of more methane doesn't necessarily mean we've stumbled upon life. Spikes in Mars' methane levels aren't unusual, with a study reporting last June on seasonal variations in the molecule's atmospheric concentration.
Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's science mission directorate, has cautioned against jumping straight to the E.T. solution on Twitter, noting methane can be created by geological processes. And sadly, as far as we know, rocks are not living beings.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 24 2019, @06:08PM (2 children)
I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer! [youtu.be]
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday June 24 2019, @09:03PM (1 child)
>rocks are not living beings.
Maybe, maybe not, but they're certainly not the living beings we are looking for.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 25 2019, @01:11AM
These are not the rocks you're looking for.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 24 2019, @06:14PM
buggalos: http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090523181825/en.futurama/images/6/62/Buggalo.jpg [nocookie.net]
(Score: 4, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Monday June 24 2019, @06:34PM (4 children)
21ppb is a pretty tiny "spike", seems like the kinds of levels that might be sequestered by thermal processes (condense in the shade of a boulder, or in a cave or whatever) then released at sunrise, or when a good stiff breeze blows it out.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday June 24 2019, @10:03PM (3 children)
Or geological processes.
(Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday June 25 2019, @02:40AM (2 children)
"Fossil" fuels being created by geological processes is so far considered a conspiracy theory https://principia-scientific.org/swedish-scientists-geologists-fossil-fuel-theory-busted/ [principia-scientific.org]
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday June 25 2019, @02:53AM
On the eighth day He created Coal, on the ninth Oil.
Heretics claim that He created Uranium on the tenth day, but the true believers know that is the fruit of his fallen son, the Morningstar.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday June 25 2019, @04:50AM
Such as serpentization? Weathering of basaltic minerals, particularly olivine, by water, both which Mars has, releases some methane.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday June 24 2019, @06:36PM (1 child)
The Martians must ban bean burritos to prevent themselves being detected by the primitive invaders up on the surface.
Citation Needed?
It could be a faulty seal on a disused shaft that once led to the surface allowing bits of methane to ex-scape.
If mom plugs the internet router back in I hope the clocks will re sync with network time servers.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday June 24 2019, @09:01PM
That's not Martians, that's BUZZ LIGHTYEAR! (He had the bean burrito for lunch.)
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 24 2019, @08:31PM
No, that isn't Martian life, just the guy 'Swampy' 2 cubicles over had a chili-bean burrito. And yes, the stench would reach Mars.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Monday June 24 2019, @09:14PM
In addition, the methane was noticed after the rover tugged slightly on a protuberance it discovered on the surface.