The natural gas methane found on Mars by NASA scientists in early 2009 could signal genuine proof of alien life. On the other hand, as scientists are quick to remind us, there could be less exciting and revelatory reasons.
Methane on Mars
There are two different explanations for the large ‘pockets’ of natural methane gas that scientists using highly powerful telescopes have discovered. While there is the exciting possibility that the gas, which experts believe is being annually replenished, is being produced by alien life forms, the far less than exhilarating reality is probably that the gas is being generated by geological activity.
Quite excitingly though, some scientists think that there is a possibility single celled organisms may have lived for millennia below the surface of Mars; which may potentially provide an explanation for the pockets of methane.
In spite of the rather more boring explanation of geological causes of this production natural gas, scientists will still be able to learn a lot about the planetary processes taking place on Mars.
‘Plumes’ of methane gas were discovered in 2003, and this is seen as very strong evidence that the gas is being released from specific areas on the planet. However, researchers maintain that this does not necessarily lean to one explanation or another. Despite this, the plumes may indicate that geological processes, such as underground volcanoes, are creating causing the release of the gas, rather than widespread biological organisms.
Further Research About Mars
Scientists now say that they need to conduct much more thorough research in order to pin down exactly what may be causing the sustained release of methane gas. “we'd like to map the gases being released to establish which of those are more likely biological in origin versus others that may be geochemical in origin,” said Dr. Michael Mumma, a senior scientist at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Centre.
NASA are now set to send a probe to Mars in 2011, which will carry instruments capable of measuring methane and carbon in the planets atmosphere, and distinguishing between geologically and biologically created gasses.
Although it may be quite a few years before we are able to discover the genuine facts about this exciting new discovery, it does nonetheless show the level to which scientific technology has advanced.
And while there may be many different ideas and theories generated between now and 2011, there is at least the undeniable possibility of alien life out there in the universe.
 |
