The discovery has divided scientists over alien life on Mars
Scientists picked up a strange spike of methane from Mars
It could have been produced by a non-biological process, such as a chemical reaction involving water, carbon dioxide and the mineral olivine, or microbial bugs. In either case, the methane would have punched its way through cracks in the surface ice caused by pressure build up, seismic stresses or meteor impacts.According to computer simulations, up to 4,000 tonnes of methane in total may have been released from a region less than 800 kilometres east of Gale Crater.
‘Rather than by large emissions and a global presence, our data suggest that the presence of methane on Mars might be characterised by small, short emissions and transient events.’They add: ‘We do not address the ultimate origin of the detected Martian methane. Many abiotic and biotic processes can generate methane on Mars.
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