Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

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75302 The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

 

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

The paper was published in the journal Science.

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Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

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75302 The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

 

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

The paper was published in the journal Science.

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Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

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75302 After an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days, NASA’s Curiosity rover has confirmed the presence of methane on Mars environment which may hint that life once existed on the Red Planet.

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

Descargar

Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

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75302 After an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days, NASA’s Curiosity rover has confirmed the presence of methane on Mars environment which may hint that life once existed on the Red Planet.

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

Descargar

Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

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75302 After an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days, NASA’s Curiosity rover has confirmed the presence of methane on Mars environment which may hint that life once existed on the Red Planet.

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

The paper was published in the journal Science.

Descargar

Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

Escrito por

75302 After an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days, NASA’s Curiosity rover has confirmed the presence of methane on Mars environment which may hint that life once existed on the Red Planet.

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

The paper was published in the journal Science.

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How pollution could make you obese

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74859 Researchers have discovered a link between the levels of certain environmental pollutants that a person accumulates in his or her body and their level of obesity.

 

«We found that people with higher levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were quantitatively more obese and also showed higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides,» said lead author Juan Pedro Arrebola from the University of Granada in Spain.

These factors are regarded as key risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases.

The researchers analysed the levels of pollutants accumulated in adipose tissue (fat) in nearly 300 men and women, who were attended in the surgery services of two hospitals in the province of Granada.

The POPs can remain in the environment for years, even decades, without degrading.

«Humans are exposed to POPs mainly through diet. Besides, POPs accumulate gradually in body fat, and this is the reason why the median levels in our study give us an idea of an individual’s accumulated exposition over a number of years,» Arrebola added.

Using complex statistical methods, the scientists confirmed that the accumulated levels of several POPs were related to obesity and to serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

The findings were true irrespective of the gender, age, place of residence or smoking habits of participants in the survey.

The study appeared in the journal Environmental Pollution.

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How pollution could make you obese

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74859 Researchers have discovered a link between the levels of certain environmental pollutants that a person accumulates in his or her body and their level of obesity.

 

«We found that people with higher levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were quantitatively more obese and also showed higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides,» said lead author Juan Pedro Arrebola from the University of Granada in Spain.

These factors are regarded as key risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases.

The researchers analysed the levels of pollutants accumulated in adipose tissue (fat) in nearly 300 men and women, who were attended in the surgery services of two hospitals in the province of Granada.

The POPs can remain in the environment for years, even decades, without degrading.

«Humans are exposed to POPs mainly through diet. Besides, POPs accumulate gradually in body fat, and this is the reason why the median levels in our study give us an idea of an individual’s accumulated exposition over a number of years,» Arrebola added.

Using complex statistical methods, the scientists confirmed that the accumulated levels of several POPs were related to obesity and to serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

The findings were true irrespective of the gender, age, place of residence or smoking habits of participants in the survey.

The study appeared in the journal Environmental Pollution.

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NASA finds methane on Mars, indicates life may have existed

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75302 ter an exhaustive analysis conducted over a year and a half, NASA’s Curiosity Rover has finally confirmed the existence of methane on Mars, somewthing which indicates that life may have existed (or still exist) on Mars.

 

In 2013, when Curiosity conducted the first analysis for methane, it didn’t find anything – something which took NASA by surprise. The existence of methane would be a good indication of life on Mars, though it can be produced without life, and life can also exist without producing it. Not finding any of it was a big blow which left scientists scratching their heads. Now, astrobiologists can rest at peace – methane does exist on the Red Planet.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.
Methane is an organic chemical compound made of one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen. In its natural state on Earth, methane is found both below ground, and under the sea floor, where it often finds its way to the surface and in the atmosphere. However, on Mars, it’s not clear how the methane might form.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.
According to currently existing models, methane would take 300 years to leave the Martian atmosphere – so if we found methane now then it was likely produced sometime in the pas 300 years. If it is indeed of biological origin, then the life forms which produced it still exist today.

The finding was made with the tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars). Spectroscopic techniques in general have a great potential for detection and monitoring of constituents in gas phase and they are highly sensitive to any change in concentration – so it’s extremely unlikely that Curiosity was wrongl.

Descargar

NASA finds methane on Mars, indicates life may have existed

Escrito por

75302 ter an exhaustive analysis conducted over a year and a half, NASA’s Curiosity Rover has finally confirmed the existence of methane on Mars, somewthing which indicates that life may have existed (or still exist) on Mars.

 

In 2013, when Curiosity conducted the first analysis for methane, it didn’t find anything – something which took NASA by surprise. The existence of methane would be a good indication of life on Mars, though it can be produced without life, and life can also exist without producing it. Not finding any of it was a big blow which left scientists scratching their heads. Now, astrobiologists can rest at peace – methane does exist on the Red Planet.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.
Methane is an organic chemical compound made of one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen. In its natural state on Earth, methane is found both below ground, and under the sea floor, where it often finds its way to the surface and in the atmosphere. However, on Mars, it’s not clear how the methane might form.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.
According to currently existing models, methane would take 300 years to leave the Martian atmosphere – so if we found methane now then it was likely produced sometime in the pas 300 years. If it is indeed of biological origin, then the life forms which produced it still exist today.

The finding was made with the tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars). Spectroscopic techniques in general have a great potential for detection and monitoring of constituents in gas phase and they are highly sensitive to any change in concentration – so it’s extremely unlikely that Curiosity was wrongl.

Descargar