Signs of methane emissions:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28677557/
Importance here being that methane is a major product of organic decomposition. Methane does occur in primordial and obviously non-organic chemistry in the universe, especially in places like Titan, Saturn's big moon, which is very cold and can hold methane as either a cold gas or in liquid form. But gaseous methane is very light, much lighter than earth's atmospheric of nitrogen and oxygen. Mars, a relatively small body, would not have the gravity to retain significant methane from its formation as a planet, even considering its somewhat colder climate than earth. So it is being generated, somehow. Definitely an interesting avenue for further study.
Meantime, just a plain excellent new astronomical picture:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28676499/
caw
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28677557/
Importance here being that methane is a major product of organic decomposition. Methane does occur in primordial and obviously non-organic chemistry in the universe, especially in places like Titan, Saturn's big moon, which is very cold and can hold methane as either a cold gas or in liquid form. But gaseous methane is very light, much lighter than earth's atmospheric of nitrogen and oxygen. Mars, a relatively small body, would not have the gravity to retain significant methane from its formation as a planet, even considering its somewhat colder climate than earth. So it is being generated, somehow. Definitely an interesting avenue for further study.
Meantime, just a plain excellent new astronomical picture:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28676499/
caw
