NASA Scientist to Speak On Discovery of Methane On Red Planet
While living systems produce more than 90 percent of Earth’s atmospheric methane, other purely geological processes, like oxidation of iron compounds, also release methane.
“Right now, we don’t have enough information to tell if biology or geology — or both — is producing the methane on Mars,” said Mumma. “But it does tell us that the planet is still alive, at least in a geologic sense.”
Mumma will speak on the mystery of Martian methane in an afternoon talk at NASA’s Langley Research Center in
Mumma will present the same lecture for the general public on Tuesday evening at
A senior scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Mumma is the founding director of Goddard’s Center for Astrobiology. His research interests include planetary and cometary physics and chemistry and the formation, evolution and characterization of planetary systems. Mumma is an elected Fellow of the American Physical Society and has twice received NASA’s Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement.
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