More evidence:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/scienc...sp?story=505454

Somewhere else I heard that the highest concentrations were found at:

You guess it:


Meridiani planum

Welcome to the forum Chaosman. A fascinating article indeed. Can't wait for them to go public with those findings!

__________________
Climate Change Australia

More mainstream media is starting to pick up the story.
Here's a pointer to a BBC article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3577551.stm

__________________
Forming opinions as we speak

Here's a good detailed piece on the subject from Oliver Morton (author of the best science book in years - Mapping Mars):

http://mainlymartian.blogs.com/semijournal...ne_and_thu.html

This is looking like big news.

__________________
David S.

"Why are the pretty ones always insane?"
-- Chief Clancy Wiggum, The Simpsons.

Absolutely awesome!!! I can't wait to hear more ! All the work going into this project seems to be looking prosperous!!!

I think that the methane on mars is from valcanic activities we should set up a new rover wait six for it to get to mars but one with a drill on it a big drill,lol

Alright, okay..laugh all you want Space 10 I heard methane was and could be used as a resource?. Sounds like a reason for further investigation to me Anything found leaking is a "hot spot"...therefore I agree...start the dig. B)

I can see two possible scenarios right off hand. One, is that the methane is being produced under/within the briny deposits of aereas studied, from either extinct or extant organisms.The other is that it is coming off of methane deposits, possibly methane hydrate, that may represent extinct or extant life, or even volcanogenic origin. I suspect that some methane might be locked up under the ice caps, and is of unkown origin (and not being picked up by the various remote sensors). Right now, I leave it to those with a better understanding of carbon (bio)geochemistry to fathom any distinctions. I have some ideas, based on my work wth carbon(ate) reactions in the deep oceans, but they might not be vaild. At any rate, there are some ideas on how to harvest methane hydrate, if it exists in "commercial" quantities. If it exists in usable amounts, it can be combined with the carbon dioxide to produce,among other things, PVC to use as domes or other plastic parts to be utilized in any colonization/exploitation of Mars. The search has hardly begun, and the possibilities barely the dreams of the knowledgable.

Old people need more sleep than they may think, and for sure, shouldn't be doing things, such as "thinking" and typing, when tired. Styrene is the plastic that some think could be produced on the planet, if enough methane is present. Also, the methane that has been detected could be of volcanic origin. Now, i can go back to bed.