Less methane on Mars than expected - THE WORLD

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less methane on Mars than expected

Where methane is, life could have been. Because “Curiosity”, the gas was also on the red planet, mankind was looking forward to an outpost. Nope: it is much less than expected

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Where methane is, life could have been. Because “Curiosity”, the gas was also on the red planet, mankind was looking forward to an outpost. Nope: it is much less than expected

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The rover “Curiosity” has found methane on Mars is less than expected by scientists. The analysis of the data collected by the research robot’ll close only small traces of gas, NASA researchers write in the journal “Science”. Previously, some researchers had assumed all the methane clouds – based on observations from Earth or from satellites. “Curiosity” had now searching over a longer period of time with a special measuring device according to the gas.

The data showed that in the atmosphere of Mars’ occurs six times less methane than previously estimated. The gas may be indicative of biological activity – be – currently or in the past. Nasa scientists consider it after the evaluation is unlikely that there is microbial life on the Red Planet, is produced from the methane.

“Curiosity”, most expensive and most sophisticated Mars mission ever, was launched about a year ago on the Red Planet to search for signs of life. Currently, there is research robot on the way to the mountain “Sharp” on the edge of the Gale Crater, where he is to perform further analyzes.

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