[meteorite-list] Methane detected in meteorites adds fuel to life on Mars theories

From: Robert Verish <bolidechaser_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:10:11 -0700
Message-ID: <1434755411.55604.YahooMailBasic_at_web142503.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>

Here is a link to the actual abstract/paper:

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150616/ncomms8399/full/ncomms8399.html

"Evidence for methane in Martian meteorites" - by
 Nigel J. F. Blamey,
 John Parnell,
 Sean McMahon,
 Darren F. Mark,
 Tim Tomkinson,
 Martin Lee,
 Jared Shivak,
 Matthew R. M. Izawa,
 Neil R. Banerjee
 & Roberta L. Flemming

ABSTRACT:
"The putative occurrence of methane in the Martian atmosphere has had a major influence on the exploration of Mars, especially by the implication of active biology. The occurrence has not been borne out by measurements of atmosphere by the MSL rover Curiosity but, as on Earth, methane on Mars is most likely in the subsurface of the crust. Serpentinization of olivine-bearing rocks, to yield hydrogen that may further react with carbon-bearing species, has been widely invoked as a source of methane on Mars, but this possibility has not hitherto been tested. Here we show that some Martian meteorites, representing basic igneous rocks, liberate a methane-rich volatile component on crushing. The occurrence of methane in Martian rock samples adds strong weight to models whereby any life on Mars is/was likely to be resident in a subsurface habitat, where methane could be a source of energy and carbon for microbial activity."

In other words, the subsurface of Mars is like a dining table with all of the necessary settings and the food ready and waiting.
Another title for this post could read as, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"

Enjoy the read,
Bob V.
http://meteorite-recovery.tripod.com/2010/mar10.htm

--------------------------------------------
On Thu, 6/18/15, Shawn Alan via Meteorite-list <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> wrote:

 Subject: [meteorite-list] Methane detected in meteorites adds fuel to life on Mars theories
 To: "Meteorite Central" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
 Date: Thursday, June 18, 2015, 3:22 PM
 
 Hello Listers
 
 I think the question is when will life be detected, I have a
 hunch and think there was life on Mars in the past, it comes down to
 proof :)
 
 Enjoy
  Shawn Alan

 ------------------------
 CTVNews.ca Staff
 Published Thursday, June 18, 2015 10:48AM EDT?
 
 A team of Canadian, Scottish and U.S. researchers says they
 have discovered traces of methane in meteorites from Mars --
 a possible clue in the search for life on the Red Planet.
 
 The researchers examined samples from six Martian meteorites
 that had fallen to Earth. The team crushed the rocks and then
 analyzed the gases that emerged using a mass spectrometer.
 
 The meteorites were found to contain gases similar to the
 composition of the Martian atmosphere; they also contained methane.
 
 LINK:
 http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/methane-detected-in-meteorites-adds-fuel-to-life-on-mars-theories-1.2428568
 
 ______________________________________________

 
Received on Fri 19 Jun 2015 07:10:11 PM PDT