NASA’s Curiosity Rover might have discovered evidence of life. It landed in 2012, and detected methane spikes that were not consistent with geology. Scientists still have no idea what is causing the methane spikes in Mars. However, one theory suggests that the spikes could be caused by methane emitted from small bacteria-like organisms. This would make science history. While methane is primarily produced by microbial organisms, other methods of creating this gas are also possible. Rover will keep looking for more signs of life. An unmanned mission to find the source of methane is planned for 2020. In the past year, the laboratory equipped to the rover has monitored the level of methane in Mars’s atmosphere twelve times. There was an enormous spike in methane levels between late 2013 & early 2014,, but it then dropped off. The American Geophysical Union convention in San Francisco held a Dec 17, press conference. Scientists at Nasa suggested that other explanations could be given for Mars’ methane. They mentioned that the Sun’s rays can degrade organic materials that have been left by meteors. This explanation is not possible as it relies on material being deposited by an object which would have been visible and leaving a large visible mark – something that has never been observed. The methane concentration jumped from 0. to 7.2 ppbv in four consecutive measurements. 69 methane levels rose from 0. These spikes were less than 200-300 metres between them. These high methane levels dropped further when Curiosity traveled another kilometre. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory of Nasa in Pasadena (California) said that the observations were evidence for methane production. However, they cannot provide direct evidence of microbial activity. “However, from our positive detection of methane on Mars, we cannot rule out the possibility that both the low background level and the high methane values originate in part from microbial activity.” “At this time,” added Dr Webster, “We have no idea what we will see in the future, or if we will ever see high values again.” Rover detects organic molecules on Mars The first definitive detection of Martian organic chemicals in material on the surface of Mars came from analysis by NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover of sample powder from this mudstone target, “Cumberland.” Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS A drilled sample of the Sheepbed mudstone in Gale crater – the rover’s landing site – was found to contain organic molecules – consisting of a wide variety of molecules made mostly of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Caroline Freissinet of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt (Maryland, USA) said that “We believe life originated on Earth around 3.8 billion years ago” and that the result showed that Mars was populated with organic molecules. Roger Summons, Curiosity Participating Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge said that “This is the first confirmed evidence of organic carbon found in rock samples on Mars. This shows great promise. Because organics can reveal the chemical pathways through which they formed and were preserved, they are very important. This information can be used to determine the chemical pathways by which they were formed and preserved.
