Leonard David for science.com about finding traces of methane on Mars and what is so exciting about it:
“…There is no doubt in Mumma’s mind that something is going on at Mars. “Mars was wet…was it also alive…or is it now alive?”
But “alive” could be geologically alive and not necessarily biologically alive, Mumma said.
“Or Mars could be biologically alive,” he added. “Or maybe both. So to me that’s the real issue. Now we think that Mars is not a dead planet. Even if it’s just geology that is occurring and releasing this methane…that’s pretty darn interesting. And the geologists are very excited about this prospect.” …”