It is said that some of the other planets in our solar system have atmospheres containing large amounts of methane. Here on earth, the theory is that methane is mainly a byproduct of life. Does the presence of methane on those planets mean possible life, or might it be that at least some of the methane we have here has nothing to do at all with ancient bacteria, plants and animals?
The vast majority of methane on Earth is of volcanic origin, and was 1000 times higher before life showed up.
No one seriously considers the existence of methane as evidence, or at least proof, of life. There are plenty of non-biological processes that produce methane.
So, yesterday (Jan 15) scientists were going nuts over methane on Mars as being potential proof of life. Now I’m getting really confused.
life is certainly one possible source of methane. As others have said, methane is commonly released through volcanic action. There are two problems with this explanation on Mars: 1) no evidence of active volcanoes, and 2) none of the other gases (ie sulfur dioxide) that are commonly released by volcanoes were detected at the same time as the methane.
This doesn’t mean life is the only other possibility, just that it is a possibility.
Is that because volcanic activity isn’t likely as the source, maybe?
Edit: Answered before I even asked.
Methane is natural gas which is usually found with oil, perhaps a indication of the abiotic oil theory (oil coming from non-biological processes and perhaps common in planet formations).
As a humorous aside: If Natural gas and oil is on mars this would explain President Bush’s interest in getting men there.
Methane on Mars is evidence of either geologic (or rather, areologic) activity or life on Mars. It’s not known yet which it is, but my money’s on rocks, not bugs. Still, that’s an interesting result, because Mars was previously thought to be geologically “dead”.