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If the methane is real, where does it come from?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·3 answers·0·0 following
Three answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.

Why it matters

Methane is a possible sign of life or of active geology⁠[1]. The answer depends first on Q-REAL and then on measurements not yet made.

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Microbes below the surface.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

History

  1. Yung et al. puts forward: microbes below the surface.
  2. Yung et al.: there is no evidence of life on the surface; microbes might reside beneath it.For: Microbes below the surface.
  3. Etiope & Oehler puts forward: geological sources, such as gas from water-rock reactions or stored reservoirs escaping through seeps.
  4. Giuranna et al.: a source region east of Gale is inferred from the 2013 PFS detection and modelling.For: Geological sources, such as gas from water-rock reactions or stored reservoirs escaping through seeps.
  5. Asked on this site
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