An eye-catching announcement

[james_davis_nicoll]

"NASA will hold a science update at 2 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 15, to discuss analysis of the Martian atmosphere that raises the possibility of life or geologic activity."

And since this is Friday, the Planetary Society Blog has a discussion of the announcement.


Strong Release of Methane on Mars in Northern Summer 2003

Comments

[galbinus-caeli.livejournal.com]

Active volcanism on Mars would be almost as interesting as life.

[twoeleven.livejournal.com]

Why?

He says, betraying his training as a biochemist, and not as a geologist.

No geology training here, so if I'm wrong, someone slap me

[abidemi.livejournal.com]

Being much smaller than Earth, Mars's core has long since cooled, and so the surface shouldn't have much in the way of active geology. No volcanoes, earthquakes, plate movements; that sort of thing. Volcanic activity would significantly revise our understanding of the planet, among other things.

Given what we know about Mars already, volcanoes seem like more of a stretch than a biological source. Not saying that's proof it is biological, but given only those two options, I know which I'd put my money on.