Curiosity Finds Rise in Methane Levels On Mars; Revives Theory of Life on Red Planet

The mystery of methane on Mars got a little more muddled. Scientists say the methane levels recorded by the Curiosity Mars showed  an unexplained spike observed over two months. The rise in the  levels also dissipated after that period.

The reason behind the spike is unexplained but NASA scientists say it could be due to microbes present in the Martian atmosphere.

In four measurements  taken in two months on Mars, average methane levels increased 10 fold before quickly disappearing.

"We can't rule it out," Chris Webster, a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told NBC News. "It's equally likely to be geophysical or biogenic. ... The fact that we've seen it, in a sense, argues that the stock in a possible biogenic source went up."

The sudden rise in methane levels is baffling as in earlier reports NASA had said that the methane gas levels on Mars were lower than expected.

A study published on 16 December, on methane levels  in Mars found by Curiosity, says that it measured  the gas to  be on average, about 0.7 parts per billion.

"They completely blow open the whole debate on Mars methane. ... I think it's going to create a lot of enthusiasm within the planetary community," Webster said.

"We will keep working on the puzzles these findings present," John Grotzinger, Curiosity project scientist of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, said in a statement, reports Fox news. "Can we learn more about the active chemistry causing such fluctuations in the amount of methane in the atmosphere? Can we choose rock targets where identifiable organics have been preserved?"