Methane and life on Mars

Gilbert V. Levin; Patricia Ann Straat

doi:10.1117/12.829183

3 September 2009 Methane and life on Mars

Gilbert V. Levin, Patricia Ann Straat

Proceedings Volume 7441, Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII; 74410D (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.829183
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Mumma et al. ¹ have confirmed earlier detections of methane in the Martian atmosphere, finding it localized and correlated with atmospheric water vapor. They determined that, because of the short half-life of methane, a continual replenishment is required to account for its presence. They also conclude that the dynamics of methane on Mars require a methane sink in the soil. It is suggested here that both phenomenon could be accounted for by an ecology of methane-producing and methane-consuming microorganisms. Such ecologies exist on Earth, where, generally, anaerobic methanogens live at depth and aerobic methanotrophs live at or near the surface. On Mars, with its essentially anaerobic atmosphere, both types of microorganisms could co-exist at or near the surface. It is possible that the Viking Labeled Release (LR) experiment detected methanogens in addition to other microorganisms evolving carbon dioxide since the LR instrumentation would detect methane, carbon dioxide, or any other carbon gas derived from one of the LR substrates. A simple modification of the LR experiment that could resolve the life on Mars issue is discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Gilbert V. Levin and Patricia Ann Straat "Methane and life on Mars", Proc. SPIE 7441, Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII, 74410D (3 September 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.829183

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available