Forums | MacLife

Roy D. Mercer · 2009-01-15 1:20 am

It's a God-awful small affair...

I say-- go, bring it back, analyze it here. Dump the rover. We need a return mission.

resedit · 2009-01-15 1:43 am

I'm not sure the presence of methane is enough to conclusively say there is life.
The methane could have been created during the volcanic era and trapped in the ice below the surface and is being slowly released as the ice vaporizes - hence the proximity to the water vapor.

But it is IMHO worth a closer look.

sturner · 2009-01-15 2:22 pm

Well, I agree with res. The only caveat to that is that they didn't show the image they got of the machined parts embedded in the soil.

big_smile tongue lol

mo' ron · 2009-01-15 3:25 pm

resedit wrote:
I'm not sure the presence of methane is enough to conclusively say there is life.
The methane could have been created during the volcanic era and trapped in the ice below the surface and is being slowly released as the ice vaporizes - hence the proximity to the water vapor.

But it is IMHO worth a closer look.

No one is saying anything close to this being conclusive proof of life.

But, from what I read, they would have expected to find sulfur if it was geological activity, which they didn't, which is why this is a little interesting.

ukimalefu · 2009-01-15 6:13 pm

Martian gas! tee-hee. big_smile

resedit · 2009-01-15 11:15 pm

mo' ron wrote:
resedit wrote:
I'm not sure the presence of methane is enough to conclusively say there is life.
The methane could have been created during the volcanic era and trapped in the ice below the surface and is being slowly released as the ice vaporizes - hence the proximity to the water vapor.

But it is IMHO worth a closer look.
No one is saying anything close to this being conclusive proof of life.

But, from what I read, they would have expected to find sulfur if it was geological activity, which they didn't, which is why this is a little interesting.

I agree - it is definitely worth checking out.

Metacell · 2009-01-16 5:06 am

Maybe the gas came from Uranus.

posted by: Brightmeadows

roll I guess somebody had to say it.

Roy D. Mercer · 2009-01-16 1:14 pm

The Sun thinks like some of you do. (Check the cover pic, about halfway down the page.)

Hint: "wind" is brit-speak for flatulence.

D'Eyncourt · 2009-01-16 3:35 pm

Here is a more science-oriented look at the presence of methane on Mars.

One of the key points is that since methane is readily broken down by ultraviolet light, the presence of any concentration of methane is very likely due to recent generation. We lack any further evidence to determine if the sources are due to volcanic rather than biological activity.

adndgamer · 2009-01-16 7:57 pm

We need to go to Mars. It's exciting that we're at a point where we could literally travel to another planet, and so very sad that we haven't tried yet.

Put a little more funding towards NASA or private enterprise?

D'Eyncourt · 2009-01-19 5:25 pm

Here is a YouTube video released by NASA showing possible origins of the methane on Mars.

And here is a criticism of brainless headlines and articles on subject. You may note that the Bad Astronomer, Phil Plait, specifically criticizes the article that the original poster linked to as "simply wrong. Completely and utterly!"

Forums | MacLife

#1 2009-01-15 1:20 am

Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

#2 2009-01-15 1:43 am

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

#3 2009-01-15 2:22 pm

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

#4 2009-01-15 3:25 pm

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

resedit wrote:

#5 2009-01-15 6:13 pm

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

#6 2009-01-15 11:15 pm

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

mo' ron wrote:

resedit wrote:

#7 2009-01-16 5:06 am

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

#8 2009-01-16 1:14 pm

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

#9 2009-01-16 3:35 pm

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

#10 2009-01-16 7:57 pm

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

#11 2009-01-19 5:25 pm

Re: Is There Life on Mars, Part 2

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