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Methane on Mars is not a sign of life

13.06.2012

When 9 years ago, scientists discovered methane in the atmosphere of Mars, it became a sensation. Many considered the presence of this gas clear evidence of life on an inhospitable planet, since methane on Earth is formed mainly as a result of biological processes. Other scientists have suggested that the methane on Mars came from volcanic activity.

In 2003, observations of Mars revealed large amounts of methane in the atmosphere. One hypothesis claims that this is the result of the vital activity of Martian microorganisms, the other - that this is the result of geological activity. However, to date, none of the theories can definitively explain the large amount (200-300 tons) of methane that is annually released into the atmosphere of the Red Planet.

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute have found that Martian methane is most likely not a sign of life. The researchers irradiated the meteorite with ultraviolet light, similar to the conditions in the deserts of Mars, and found that methane gas was released from the stone. Thus, carbon compounds from interplanetary dust and meteorites, constantly deposited on the surface of Mars, under conditions of powerful UV radiation, release methane, which was mistakenly considered a sign of Martian life. A meteorite that fell in the Australian city of Murchison in 1969 was chosen for the study. This celestial rock is about 4,6 billion years old, contains a few percent carbon and is similar in chemical composition to most meteoritic matter on Mars.

As soon as the meteorite was placed in a chamber simulating Martian conditions (powerful UV light and temperatures from -143 to +17 Celsius), it began to emit methane.

Unlike Earth, Mars does not have a protective ozone layer that absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation from space. In addition, the atmosphere of Mars is very thin, so that compared to the Earth, a much smaller part of the meteorite substance burns up in it. The theory of the meteoritic origin of methane is also consistent with the observations of orbital probes, which revealed an increased concentration of methane in the well-lit equatorial regions of Mars.

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