News Planetary Science

Mars rover fails to find methane

Lack of gas in atmosphere argues against presence of life on Red Planet

MISSING METHANE  NASA's Curiosity rover (shown) has  detected no methane in Mars’ atmosphere. The finding dampens hopes that  methane-making microbes live on the Red Planet. 

JPL-Caltech/NASA and MSSS

By Erin Wayman

- More than 2 years ago

NASA’s Curiosity rover has come up empty-handed in its search for methane in the atmosphere of Mars, researchers report September 19 in Science.