NASA's Curiosity Mars is sending back surprising data about seasonal atmospheric oxygen and methane cycles. Apparently this doesn't necessarily establish the presence of life, even simple microbial life, but it's awfully interesting. This article mentioned that there's such a thing as abiotic processes that can yield both oxygen and methane. Through the magic of Google, it's possible to ask, what kinds of abiotic processes do we know about that can produce methane? How about oxygen? It turns out there are some; geological "serpentinization" is believed to produce methane, and ultraviolet light can knock oxygen loose from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Still, something shot down that Mars Rover. I blame the Ukranians. Or was it the Russians? I keep losing track.
Speaking of nations about which I know less than I should, this list of ten nations that no longer exist was fascinating. Experimental republics do rise and fall, and not only because they are conquered by Martians or the alt-right.
5 comments:
geological "serpentinization" is believed to produce methane, and ultraviolet light can knock oxygen loose from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Those aren't seasonal processes, though, and the fluctuations in methane and oxygen seems to fluctuate with the Martian seasons.
What it seems like to my dilettantish, non-scientific mind is that it's reminiscent of the transition on Earth of methane-based life to oxygen-based life as the former poisoned its environment with the production of free oxygen as waste from its methane-based metabolism.
Eric Hines
We have to take urgent action to prevent climate change on Mars.
I often plug Nick Lane's excellent books, but this seems like a good idea to mention his book "Oxygen."
I have to ask where is global warming for Mars when we need it?
Eric Hines
Panspermia in reverse, maybe? Granted, it's uphill all the way, but we've gotten splattered by some big meteorites over the years--some jets of stuff might have the ooph to get there.
People still believe in NASA? Wait until 2021.
The same thing about patriotic Americans in the American State.
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