Is Mars... Farting? Possible Life Signs Detected

Rhykker

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Feb 28, 2010
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Is Mars... Farting? Possible Life Signs Detected



A brief spike in methane levels in the Martian atmosphere has once again been detected, hinting at a localized source that may be biological in nature.

On Earth, more than 90 percent of NASA [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/methane] scientists. But observations of the red planet over the years have detected unusual spikes in methane levels, the most impressive of which happened shortly after Thanksgiving 2013.

In a report to be published in this week's issue of Science, the event is described as having lasted for 60 Martian days and is said to have seen methane levels increase tenfold. Methane levels have remained at background levels ever since.

"What is interesting is that these spikes of methane are coming and going. They are transient," said Dr Paul Mahaffy at Nasa. "At the moment we can't really tell anything, but these burps are intriguing. We have to keep an open mind.

"We don't want to eliminate anything, and potentially it could indicate life or evidence of ancient methane trapped which could show ancient life.

"But it's interesting to think about why it comes and goes. It seems to be suggestive of a localized source."

Non-biological sources of methane include meteorites, volcanic deposits trapped in ice, and gaseous methane bound in soil, but scientists don't believe any of these could have caused the observed 2013 spike. While they aren't saying anything conclusive, the formation of methane by microbial life remains a possible explanation.

The readings were taken by the Curiosity rover in Mars' Gale Crater. The rover has been exploring the 96 mile wide crater since 2012, and NASA believes that with more readings, it can analyze isotope levels and prove whether the methane emissions are biological in origin.

Curiosity is presently making its way up Mount Sharp in Gale Crater, where it has been uncovering evidence of Martian features formed by water and lava [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138957-NASA-Finds-More-Evidence-Of-Water-And-Volcanoes-On-Mars].

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Source: Telegraph.co.uk [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/11297326/Life-on-Mars-Nasa-finds-first-hint-of-alien-life.html]

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srpilha

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Dec 24, 2008
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If it turns out we find life for the first time outside of our planet thanks to its farts, I will say we definitely, indubitably, live in a very, very good universe.

...
In the distant future:
"Mr Green, Mr Green, how did we find life on other planets?"
"Because every form of life has a butt, and butts fart. And that is enough for us to find them."
 

Stupidity

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Sep 21, 2013
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Intriguing stuff.
We should definitely check this out with our next probe or whatever.
If it is life, I cant wait to see what its made of.
 

Nergui

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Dec 13, 2013
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Stupidity said:
Intriguing stuff.
We should definitely check this out with our next probe or whatever.
If it is life, I cant wait to see what its made of.
A 'probe' to find the source of a 'fart'. Was your post a case of unintentional humour? :)

Being serious, if some form of life is discovered, they should confirm it is truly extra-terrestrial and not some bacteria that hitched a ride on an earlier craft.
http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/7148/20140503/mars-first-inhabitants-bacteria-stowaways-interplanetary-spacecraft.htm

Bacteria have shown remarkable ability in colonizing previously thought of as inhospitable to all life. Places such as nuclear reactors and NASA clean rooms [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bacteria-discovered-spacecraft-clean-rooms/].
 

Svarr

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Nov 2, 2011
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Scientists are all like.. " http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/158/327/i-dont-care-what-you-say-ancient-fucking-aliens.jpg "

But i'm just keeping my mind open instead of focusing on that. :v
 

Vendor-Lazarus

Censored by Mods. PM for Taboos
Mar 1, 2009
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So far I've found two pennies and one hidden lever in the fourth image. ,)

I'm holding out hope for life, be it either originating from Earth or Mars itself.
The most likely source for the methane is probably melting ice that varies depending solar factors though.
 

Caiphus

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Mar 31, 2010
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Surely we would have expected this from Uranus instead?

Ha ha haaaa, what am I doing with my life?
 

Extragorey

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Dec 24, 2010
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blackrave said:
I really doubt life is rare in space.
Complex life on the other hand...
To quote Enrico Fermi [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox], "Where is everybody?"
So, yeah. Micro-organisms seem probable enough, but if there was sentient life out I reckon we'd know about it by now.
I don't know what kind of life source would be required to emit a detectable amount of methane on Mars, but given we haven't observed any life it'd have to be pretty small.
 

FalloutJack

Bah weep grah nah neep ninny bom
Nov 20, 2008
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Extragorey said:
blackrave said:
I really doubt life is rare in space.
Complex life on the other hand...
To quote Enrico Fermi [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox], "Where is everybody?"
So, yeah. Micro-organisms seem probable enough, but if there was sentient life out I reckon we'd know about it by now.
I don't know what kind of life source would be required to emit a detectable amount of methane on Mars, but given we haven't observed any life it'd have to be pretty small.
I always felt that Fermi was being a little uptight about the whole affair. It's a big unverse out there, and the farther we look out into it, literally the further BACK we're seeing because of the light we're capable seeing because of the light we receive. Couple that with a limited range and ability to dedicate full time and simply not seeing something out there is not so improbable.

The space farts, though. That's a new one on me.
 

happyninja42

Elite Member
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May 13, 2010
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srpilha said:
If it turns out we find life for the first time outside of our planet thanks to its farts, I will say we definitely, indubitably, live in a very, very good universe.

...
In the distant future:
"Mr Green, Mr Green, how did we find life on other planets?"
"Because every form of life has a butt, and butts fart. And that is enough for us to find them."
Actually, I seem to recall Carl Sagan discussing this very concept when he was talking about Star Trek's ability to detect "life signs". He asked something along the lines of 'what signs are they detecting from space anyway?' . And he stated that we would most likely start looking for methane and ammonia(feces and urine), as these are most commonly produced by biological processes. So yeah, scientists have considered the likelihood that our first signs of extraterrestrial life would be detected by them having a really bad burrito, and having a case of the runs. xD
 

hawkeye52

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Jul 17, 2009
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Caiphus said:
Surely we would have expected this from Uranus instead?

Ha ha haaaa, what am I doing with my life?
Sir. In my eyes you have just won yourself an internet. That is what you are doing with your life. Continue your brave work of spreading the holy humour of terrible puns.
 

Atmos Duality

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Mar 3, 2010
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Nergui said:
Stupidity said:
Intriguing stuff.
We should definitely check this out with our next probe or whatever.
If it is life, I cant wait to see what its made of.
A 'probe' to find the source of a 'fart'. Was your post a case of unintentional humour? :)
Life is stranger than fiction.
And that's why I'm a scientist.