Methane gas on Mars could mean signs of life


Martian hunters, rejoice: NASA's Curiosity Rover just found evidence of methane gas on Mars. That means there's hope for life up there yet.
Last year NASA's Curiosity Rover found no evidence of methane gas on Mars, leading scientists to conclude the planet couldn't sustain life. They reversed that conclusion Tuesday.
Scientists also found carbon-based organic molecules in a rock sample for the first time, The New York Times reports. They aren't necessarily signs of life, but could imply Mars had — and maybe even has — everything needed for organisms to live.
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Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.
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