RE: Methane sources on Mars
December 17, 2014 at 9:04 pm
(This post was last modified: December 17, 2014 at 9:05 pm by Heywood.)
(December 17, 2014 at 8:51 pm)Napoléon Wrote: I'd say it's a very solid assumption actually. Carbon is the most chemically active ingredient in the periodic table (shameless quote from NDT) as well as being one of the most common elements in the universe. The same can't be said for something like silicon. Of all the elements out that we know of, if you were to design a life-form and choose it's make-up, you'd choose carbon.
On another note, anyone have any idea just how likely it is that the source of this methane is organic life? We talking a 10% chance? 50%?
Mars and earth have exchanged material. If life exists or has existed on Mars it is possible it is of the same lineage of life on earth. My gut tells me that if life exists or has existed on Mars.....it is carbon based. Until someone shows me an example of silicone based life, I see no compelling reason the believe it commonly exists.
