NASA Rover Finds Active and Ancient Organic Chemistry on Mars

[jakeXT]

Last edited Tue Dec 16, 2014, 06:09 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: NASA JPL

NASA's Mars Curiosity rover has measured a tenfold spike in methane, an organic chemical, in the atmosphere around it and detected other organic molecules in a rock-powder sample collected by the robotic laboratory's drill.

"This temporary increase in methane -- sharply up and then back down -- tells us there must be some relatively localized source," said Sushil Atreya of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a member of the Curiosity rover science team. "There are many possible sources, biological or non-biological, such as interaction of water and rock."

Researchers used Curiosity's onboard Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) laboratory a dozen times in a 20-month period to sniff methane in the atmosphere. During two of those months, in late 2013 and early 2014, four measurements averaged seven parts per billion. Before and after that, readings averaged only one-tenth that level.

Curiosity also detected different Martian organic chemicals in powder drilled from a rock dubbed Cumberland, the first definitive detection of organics in surface materials of Mars. These Martian organics could either have formed on Mars or been delivered to Mars by meteorites.

Read more: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4413

---

http://www.ustream.tv/NASAJPL2

[belzabubba333]

1. drip drip drip

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. Something could wave at the camera and the media would still claim only kooks believe in alien life.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. "the first definitive detection of organics"

Why did I just picture that scene in Ted of the TV preacher screaming, "Look what Jesus did! Look what Jesus did!"

[BlueJazz]

5. Hallelujah! Ga-odd put a-thee holy methane to test thy spirit and thy resolution.

Blessed be thee organic molecules for they have seen the light.

[AtheistCrusader]

9. "-spills the cocaine- Jesus! You see what GOD just did to us, man?"

[Dustlawyer]

4. Martians exist!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. The media doesn't care. Jeb just announced he's thinking of running.

[Botany]

6. Organic Chemistry was tough enough but now they want to hold the class on Mars?

[Avalux]

7. Stop it! Don't make me remember Organic Chemistry.

Worst class I ever took, honestly.

[Lochloosa]

13. I LOVED Organic Chemistry

Right after dropping it.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Kinda ruins the salad bar.

[srican69]

8. That is just some of the left over pixie dust that God used to create life on earth.

[AtheistCrusader]

10. Fun stuff but remember...

We've found rocks/materials from Mars here on earth from impacts that knocked shit loose, so one-way panspermia isn't unlikely, two-way is possible, even if our atmosphere is thicker and gravity well deeper.

This could be stuff from earth itself, the first life forms from earth to colonize mars. Ain't that a kick?

[Sancho]

11. Sandworm spice?

[joshcryer]

12. This should be the breaking news of the day.

This should be all over everything. It's a localized effect. Something is going on here. And this is a place where we are certain water lay for millions of years.

Something is going on and this would be the greatest scientific find of our lifetimes.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. "Something is going on and this would be the greatest scientific find of our lifetimes."

Mars farted.

[joshcryer]

16. Martian water bear farts?

[Posteritatis]

22. Tardigrades are inherently neat. (nt)

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

17. What's going to happen? Something wonderful.

[n2doc]

19. Must have drilled into a Martian Latrine

Look around for discarded reading materials…..

[LuvNewcastle]

20. Let's frack Mars!

[longship]

21. My prediction. They will find evidence of life on Mars.

Probably not Curiosity; it is not equipped for that. (WHY THE FUCK NOT? I know... the fucking NASA budget.)

As Bill Nye, the Science Guy, has often said... This is a discovery that would change the world.

Well, the NASA planetary science budget has received nearly all their requested funds in the recent government funding bill. That means that there WILL be a probe to Europa to find life. Unlike Mars, if life exists on Europa it will very likely be determined to be a separate Genesis. Why? Because of Jupiter's huge gravitational well. No life on a meteor from Earth would likely survive.

But even if life on Mars is fairly certain at this point, there are still the questions. Is it the same as Earth life?

We are going to have to put footprints there to find out, I would suspect.
As Major Kong said: Let's get things going on the hump. We've got some flying to do!

Yeee! Haw! Gonna CHANGE THE WORLD,

[joshcryer]

23. +1

[olddots]

24. this is great news

In America it isn't as important as Kim's cleavage but this is fantastic news .

[darkangel218]

26. Martian cows

Cool

[Odin2005]

27. Just to remind people that organic molecules doesn't mean "came from living things".

Organic compounds are just molecules with hydrogen and carbon in them.

[Baclava]

28. but who knows what's hiding in those lava tubes........'The Caves of Mars'

What secrets lie within the Caves of Mars?

One of the first was discovered by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in 2007. It is more than 490 feet across. Like most similar features, it's probably a collapsed lava tube. Holes such as these are officially known as "skylights". Skylights on Earth often form in volcanic regions where ancient lava flows have created underground lava tubes.

When the flow of lava ceases and the tubes become empty, caverns may form. If the roof of one these caverns collapses, a skylight forms. This theory gains support from the fact that the Martian hole lies in the midst of the Arsias Mons volcano system.

Most similar Martian skylights are also found in volcanic areas. Skylights have also been observed on the Moon.

http://io9.com/5927836/what-secrets-lie-within-the-caves-of-mars

[Feral Child]

29. K&R n/t