Life on Mars? Some Scientists Claim Methane Haze Around Red Planet Must Be Produced by Martian Microbes

Eitherthat or space cows:

ALIEN microbes living just below the Martian soil are responsible for a haze of methane around the Red Planet, Nasa scientists believe. The gas, belched in vast quantities in our world by cows, was detected by orbiting spacecraft and from Earth using giant telescopes.

Nasa are today expected to confirm its presence during a briefing at their Washington HQ.

And the find is seen as exciting new evidence that Martian microbes are still alive today.

I think this is bunk, pushed by either crank or at least incautious scientists. The evidence seems to be that methane is usually produced by volcanoes, but there are no active volcanoes on Mars, and voila... alien life.

I'd wait to check to see what else might be producing methane before jumping to this big conclusion.

It doesn't help that this is being reported by the headline-happy Sun.

Thanks to Circa.

posted by Ace at 11:40 AM

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