NASA spacecraft on Mars, Curiosity has not discovered this in its first analysis of methane in the atmosphere of Mars; note that you will undoubtedly upsetting those who hope to find life on the Red Planet.
Vital organisms produce more than 90% of the methane found in the Earth's atmosphere, so scientists are very interested if we could find a little of this gas in the air of Mars. However Curiosity has come empty-handed in the first atmospheric measurements made.
"Summary is that we have not so far discern no sign of methane." - Chris Webster, Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California Pesadena told reporters.
Scientists have detected methane in the Martian atmosphere before, using a variety of instruments on the ground and in space. But the measured gas concentrations were low; ranging from 10 to 50 parts per billion.
According to scientists the lack of detection of methane by Curiosity does not mean that previous observations are wrong. In fact, methane concentrations can vary from region to region and also vary at different times.
"At this time we do not have a positive discovery of methane on Mars." Sushil Atreya said Michigan University.
"But that may change over time and depends on how it is produced methane on Mars and how he destroyed."
Possible non-biological sources of methane include comets blow, interplanetary dust particle degradation by ultraviolet rays and water-rock interaction. And gas can be destroyed by photochemical reactions in the atmosphere or absorbed by the surface of Mars.
Scientists think that the disappearance of methane on Mars are effective to remove the gas from the atmosphere in every few hundred years. This means that any detected methane in the Martian air has been generated in recent times.
New atmospheric measurements, which are mostly based on some studies Curiosity to a place called Rocknest, may also help scientists better understand how the Red Planet could have lost much of its original atmosphere. Mars air is actually only 1% thick as that of the Earth.
In measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide, stood an increase of 5% in heavy isotopes of carbon, compared to the isotopic composition was thought to have been at the time when Mars was formed.
Curiosity landed on Mars on August 5th to begin a two-year mission for the purpose of determining whether the Red Planet could have ever supported microbial life. Scientists eagerly await the data brings Curiosity.
"Let me emphasize that these are the first measurements." Said Michael Meyer, Curiosity and managerial program scientist of NASA's Mars exploration program.
"We are waiting for other discoveries."
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