Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Where there’s methane there’s life? Scientists find that much of the methane  (one carbon atom connected to four hydrogen atoms) in our atmosphere is produced by microbes. Now NASA scientists find methane on Mars and the amounts are changing suggesting that microbes might be producing it. Although there are also other possible explanations for the release of methane other than life, the findings are tantilizing.

Having discovered water on the red planet, over the next several years NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch several probes to discover the source of the gas and perhaps even find added evidence of life on Mars.

What will it mean to you if life is found on Mars or elsewhere in space?

What are your thoughts on whether this will help or hinder healing the rift between science and spirituality?

Photographer: Stocktrek RF Getty Royalty Free Image

This entry was posted on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 2:32 pm and is filed under Explaining Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.