[meteorite-list] Is there smelly life out there?

From: Mark Ford <mark.ford_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:12:19 -0000
Message-ID: <29A9DB45B84970458190D7D39BD42C494FA9E1_at_gamma.ssl.atw>

>Although there is a consensus among some scientists that methane is
also
>produced by volcanic processes, the lack of any active volcanoes on
Mars rules
>this possibility out.


So by that somewhat 'skewed logic' (imho) there's also life on Jupiter,
the moon, Titan, at least one exoplanet and Venus, oh or could it
perchance be that it is volcanic/geologic in origin, and we just haven't
located the source yet - but that doesn't grab the head lines I guess!!

Best,

Mark





-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Darren
Garrison
Sent: 15 January 2009 15:36
To: meteorite list
Subject: [meteorite-list] Is there smelly life out there?

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24917099-401,00.html

Methane discovery suggests presence of life on Mars, say Nasa scientists

NASA scientists are expected to announce they may have proof there is
life on
Mars.

The scientists suspect alien microbes are alive and kicking just below
the soil
of the big planet, after large quantities of what is believed to be the
organisms' waste products were detected.

The organisms - called methanogens - are suspected to have been living
in water
beneath underground ice, where they are disgorging tonnes and tonnes of
methane.

On Earth, methane is produced in massive quantities by animals such as
cows,
sheep and goats.

Giant telescopes from Earth and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have
spotted
a haze of the gas surrounding Mars, and according to some scientists
this can
only point to the presence of life on Mars.

"Methane is a product of biology," UK Mars expert Professor Colin
Pillinger told
UK tabloid The Sun last night.

"For methane to be in Mars' atmosphere, there has to be a replenishable
source.

"The most obvious source of methane is organisms, so if you find methane
in an
atmosphere, you can suspect there is life.

"It's not proof, but it makes it worth a much closer look."

"What could be more profound than to know it's not just us out there?

"We've really only scratched the surface - it's an absolute certainty
that there
is life out there and we are not alone.

"If there is life on Mars then the logical conclusion is that there must
be life
elsewhere too."

Although there is a consensus among some scientists that methane is also
produced by volcanic processes, the lack of any active volcanoes on Mars
rules
this possibility out.

Methane plumes are very short-lived, it is chemically broken down by
sunlight
within a year. Something is replacing the methane, and quickly.

The fascination with the idea that Mars harbours life has pervaded
popular
culture for over a century.

The public obsession with Martians began way back in 1877 when
astronomer
Giovanni Sciaparelli reported observations of large canali - meaning
"channels"
- on Mars, which he speculated must have been dug by an intelligent
race,
although this proved mistaken.

H.G. Wells classic 1898 novel of a Martian invasion of Earth War of the
Worlds
has been turned into two big budget Hollywood films and when staged as
1938
radio play by Orson Wells caused reportedly caused panic when some of
the
audience mistook it for a real newscast.

Director Tim Burton reimagined the scenario with playfully malignant
extraterrestrials in his blackly comic 1996 film Mars Attacks.

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Received on Thu 15 Jan 2009 11:12:19 AM PST