Well…maybe. Was reading this article on The Science Channel’s web site and thought it might be an interesting debate. Seems fairly conclusive evidence that there is something going on there…but what? And would it be worthwhile to (in these trying economic times, blah blah blah) to redouble our exploration efforts, either manned or unmanned, to seek the answers. How important is the question of life on other planets?
Some quotes from the cite:
What say you 'dopers? Is it important? Is it conclusive? Is it worth further exploration?
Dunno; but I wouldn’t want to have to bet that there is NO possible non-organic source for the methane. I’d love for there to be life on Mars, but in my old age, I’ve come to agree with the cynical saying, “The possibility of life existing on another planet is inversely proportional to our knowledge about that planet.”
The methane emanations have been confusing/exciting scientists for quite some time. There are possible natural explanations, but as far as I know even those aren’t really compatible with our current understanding of Martian geology. So either way, it’s interesting.
You must mean “explanations involving geological/inorganic sources”, right? Surely, even if the Mars methane sources were organic/biological, there’s no reason to think there’d be anything supernatural about them.
Sure, it’s somewhat exciting, but…that’s the 47th time or so that we hear about some hint that there might be life on Mars, so I’m not going to hold my breath.
So lets be optimistic and say that the methane is indeed some form of life on mars. After we bask in the amazing and wonderful knowledge that life exists outside of our planet, then what? Since it clearly isn’t anywhere near sentient life, what would the next step be?
Thanks. I wasn’t yanking your chain, btw, I did think there was a possibility that you were referring to some findings unknown to me about Mars methane that weren’t explained by the currently known laws of physics. But “supernatural” wasn’t the best way of describing that, I guess.
Obviously not, but I firmly believe it’s only a matter of time. If there’s no life on Mars, there was. And surely there will be (meaning us, eventually.)
21,000 Tons of Methane sounds like alot. IIRC the numbers from the article.
But over a WHOLE planet? Thats VERY VERY little. I am sure there are plenty of non-biologic mechanisms that could account for it, particularly at such low levels.
Don’t get me wrong though, I am rooting for martians every step of the way.
The trouble is that science operates slowly and methodically. The media generally don’t understand the process, and it doesn’t jibe well with the punchy headline method of reporting. It’s a long road to obtaining conclusive evidence on something like this, but since the perception of the jackpot at the end is the most sensational, that’s what always gets the focus and it grows stale. The romantic “eureka” moments of sudden advance don’t actually happen that much; it’s more often a progression from “what is that?” to “could it be this?” to “I think that’s right” to “yeah that’s gotta be it”. And of course, there’s the possibility for a concept to derail at every step of the way. So it’s entirely natural for science reporting to seem to consist of the same stuff and/or contradictory stuff.
You must mean “explanations involving geological/inorganic sources”, right? Surely, even if the Mars methane sources were organic/biological, there’s no reason to think there’d be anything supernatural about them.