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Detections of methane on Mars have excited scientists because, on Earth, the gas is often produced by microbes - its presence could indicate that similar life was, or is, present on the red planet.
There are potential geological processes that could produce methane too, but even before identifying the source of the gas on Mars, scientists have been trying to solve another mystery.
The detections of methane aren't consistent. Some instruments, such as NASA's Curiosity rover, have repeatedly detected the gas above the surface of the Gale Crater. Others, such as ESA's (European Space Agency) orbiter, haven't found any traces of methane higher up in the Martian atmosphere.
news.sky.com
There are potential geological processes that could produce methane too, but even before identifying the source of the gas on Mars, scientists have been trying to solve another mystery.
The detections of methane aren't consistent. Some instruments, such as NASA's Curiosity rover, have repeatedly detected the gas above the surface of the Gale Crater. Others, such as ESA's (European Space Agency) orbiter, haven't found any traces of methane higher up in the Martian atmosphere.
Mysterious methane detections on Mars baffle NASA scientists
On Earth the gas is produced by microbes. Its presence could indicate that similar life was, or is, present on the red planet.