Gas hints at life on Mars

[Sudhakar]

Gas hints at life on Mars
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:43:43 +0530



Jan 16 - NASA has revealed plumes of methane gas seeping from the surface of the Red Planet.

The presence of the gas strongly suggests that living biology exists or has existed. On Earth, 90 per cent of methane is produced by living organisms. And while volcanos do account for some of Earth's methane, no volcanos have been spotted on Mars. One explanation could be the reaction of Martian rocks and water which may release methane in a process called serpentinisation. Scientists will be able to determine traces of life either way when a new Mars rover is launched in 2011.

Matthew Stock reports.