Scientists have discovered a mysterious methane reservoir under the ocean floor



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The search for life on other planets has captivated humanity for decades.

But the reality could be a little less similar to Hollywood blockbusters, scientists said.

They say that if there was life on the red planet, it will probably present itself as a fossilized bacteria – and proposed a new way of looking for it.

Here are the most promising signs of life up to now –

L & # 39; water

When they seek life on Mars, experts agree that water is the key.

Although the planet is now rocky and barren, with water trapped in polar ice caps, there may have been water in the past.

In 2000, scientists discovered for the first time evidence of the existence of water on Mars.

NASA Mars Global Surveyor has discovered gullies that could have been created by whitewater.

Debate is ongoing as to whether these Recurrent Slope Lines (RSL) could have been formed from the flow of water.

Meteorites

The Earth has been hit by 34 Mars meteorites, three of which have the potential to bear traces of life on the planet, writes Space.com.

In 1996, experts in Antarctica discovered a meteorite called ALH 84001, containing fossilized formations resembling bacteria.

However, in 2012, the experts concluded that this organic matter was formed by volcanic activity without life.

Signs of life

The first big shots of the planet were taken by the 1964 mission of Mariner 4.

These first images showed that Mars has reliefs that could have formed when the climate was much wetter and therefore conducive to life.

In 1975, the first Viking Orbiter was launched and, although inconclusive, paved the way for other landing gear.

Many rovers, orbiters and undercarriages have now highlighted traces of water under the crust and even occasional rainfall.

Earlier this year, NASA's Curiosity rover discovered elements of life in an ancient Martian lake bed.

The preserved organic molecules in a 3.5 billion year old bedrock in the crater of Gale – believed to have contained a shallow lake the size of Lake Okeechobee in Florida – suggest that the conditions of the lake are not clear. times were perhaps conducive to life.

Future Mars missions plan to bring samples back to Earth for further testing.

Methane

In 2018, Curiosity also confirmed strong seasonal increases in methane in the Martian atmosphere.

Experts said that methane sightings provide "one of the most compelling cases" of current life.

The methane measurements of Curiosity were made over four years and a half terrestrial, covering parts of three Martian years.

Seasonal peaks were detected at the end of the summer in the northern hemisphere and at the end of winter in the southern hemisphere.

The magnitude of these seasonal peaks – by a factor of three – was well above that expected by scientists.

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