Curiosity rover has detected methane on Mars. On Earth, it comes … – Poland The Times

Curiosity, which since August 2012. Conducts research within the population of 154 km diameter crater Gale, cyclical pattern detected methane emissions to the atmosphere. In the conditions of terrestrial methane is 95 percent. organic origin and is closely connected with the life cycle of plants and animals. So again, the question arises whether on Mars, now or in the distant past, there was life.

Scientists, however, stipulate that methane on Mars may come also from geochemical processes, or quite other previously unknown sources.

– made a great discovery. Organic substances found on Mars – said web-streamed press conference, John Grotzinger of the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) in Pasadena, Calif.

– There is a possibility that these substances derived from living organisms. We just need to take account of this possibility – he added.

– The periodic significant increases in methane content in the atmosphere – a rapid increase and then decrease – indicate that the source must be relatively small – Sushil Atreya assumed at the University of Michigan, which is part of the project Curiosity. – There may be many such sources of biological and non-biological, such as, for example. Reactions taking place between the water and rocks – added.

Curiosity led the research content of methane in the Martian atmosphere for 20 months from November 2013. Using a laboratory spectrometer onboard SAM (Sample Analysis on Mars).

In addition, during the trip to the rising mountains in the middle of the crater Sharp of nearly 5 km, the rover detected on the rocks obvious signs of water erosion, sediment characteristic left by the flowing water and organic molecules in the test wells in the rocks. Their origin has not been established.

Earlier researchers have published findings, which show that in the distant past was wholly crater filled with water. It contains deposits formed over millions of years up Sharp. Jeep is moving toward its base to further explore its construction.

The mission of Curiosity, the largest and most modern equipment which has a research of previous Mars rovers will last at least until 2020.

A recent study published in the latest issue of the journal “Science” and officially will be presented at the annual conference of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, which will be held this week.