Scientists have discovered a large amount of gas on Mars that may indicate the presence of life on the planet - methane. On Earth, methane is mainly formed as a result of the activity of living organisms, as well as due to volcanic activity, explains The Daily Telegraph. How he appeared on the Red Planet is still unknown
Specialists discovered Martian methane during a seven-year study, the official results of which NASA will sum up today. Scientists noticed the first traces of this gas back in 2003. Experts, however, are still not sure if microbes are involved. If the answer to this question is in the affirmative, it means only one thing - there is life on Mars.
“Living organisms produce more than 90% of methane in the Earth's atmosphere, the rest of it is of geochemical origin. On Mars, methane can be of both origins,”- said in an official statement from NASA. According to optimistic experts, methane-producing microorganisms can live in water, concentrated below the surface, under the ice.
Professor Colin Pillinger, who participated in the development of the Martian spacecraft Beagle 2, believes that the current discovery could be very important. “The most obvious source of methane is organisms. So if you find methane in the atmosphere, then you can suspect there is life … This is not evidence, but the find is worth closer examination."
As noted by the British tabloid The Sun, there are no active volcanoes known to mankind that could produce methane on Mars. What's more, the gas has been found in the same areas as water vapor, which is necessary to sustain life.
The final results of the multi-year research NASA will announce today during a briefing at its headquarters in Washington.
Recall that recently the European Space Agency (ESA) announced its intention to conduct the Exo-Mars experiment on Mars, which involves drilling rocks in order to find traces of life at depth. It is assumed that the experiment will be carried out after 2011.
“This will allow us to get a sample of soil from under the surface of Mars, which fundamentally expands the capabilities of the mission to search for any life forms. The fact is that the surface of the Red Planet is not well suited for life, but at the same time, even at a shallow depth, conditions for it can be quite acceptable,”explained Oleg Korablev, Deputy Director of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
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The formation of life directly on the surface of Mars is prevented by large temperature differences and ultraviolet radiation. In addition, due to chemical reactions, oxides and minerals on the surface of Mars form hydrogen peroxide, which is used on Earth for sterilization.