NASA was able to identify gas on the Red Planet that is typically produced by living creatures here on Earth.
Methane Found on Mars
The Curiosity Rover picked up a steady methane stream from the Gale Crater on Mars. It appeared at various times of the day and fluctuated with the seasons. There were even instances when it was 40 times higher than usual.
The Gale Crater spot, where the gas was observed to seep through, was the only spot on Mars where the rover could pick up the gas.
Though life has yet to be discovered on Mars, scientists think that the source of the gas is deep under the ground.
The team has suggested that methane be encased in solidified salt. It may only seep out when Mars temperatures rise, or the rover rolls on the crust and cracks it.
On Earth, this molecule is typically a sign of life, as it is the gas that animals pass when they digest food.
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Salty Vapor and Methane
Scientists got to simulate what could happen in lab experiments resembling Martian soil conditions.
For a long period, salts bubble from deep under the planet's dusty and rocky surface, forming a substance called regolith. These salts are known as perchlorates, which are quite abundant on the Red Planet. They are toxic and abundant in the ice trapped under the planet's surface.
As ice does when the atmosphere is little, this ice also ends up gradually evaporating. The vapor then filters through the surface regolith and leaves a portion of itself behind. When sufficient salts build up within the regolith, they end up forming something like a shell.
On the Red Planet, this process can naturally occur over prolonged periods in the shallow permafrost regions. It could also be possible for sufficient salt to build up in the top layer to form a seal.
Methane also bubbles up as the salty vapor bubbles up simultaneously.
The exact source remains a mystery. The gas could be from living things or geological processes that occur under the planet's surface. Regardless of where it is from, it gets trapped under the salt crust.
By pumping different perchlorate concentrations through the simulated regolith of Mars, scientists discovered that three to 13 days were sufficient to form the impermeable crust. A perchlorate concentration of 5% to 10% also created a solid salt crust.
The scientists pumped neon gas up under the crust. This served as a substitute for methane and confirmed that the robustness of the layer was sufficient enough for gas to be trapped under.
However, when the temperatures rise in certain seasons of days, the crust breaks and results in methane leaks. This is when the rover was able to pick up atmospheric methane.
It appears that temperature is not the only thing that can lead to crust cracking. The thickness of the crust is likely worth two centimeters. The researchers note that the rover is heavy enough to crack through it when it rolls over.
The researchers note that to test this hypothesis, it would be good to measure methane when the rover reaches the location with content features for high salt. A different test would be to attempt to ingest Martian air while drilling into the surface.
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