Gary McMurty posted a theory on the Icepick Europa Probe e-mail list about one possible source of the organics detected on Mars. He has given me permission to post it here and is most curious as to your thoughts on the subject, thanks. - Larry

----- Original Message -----
From: Gary McMurtry
To: europa@klx.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: More organics found on Mars? Read with caution

Not to throw too much cold Maritan water in these possibly exciting findings, but there are now several Earth craft on the planet's surface, with the additional fumes of those that didn't make a soft landing (e.g., Beagle). My question is has anyone done the math on emanation rates of traces of these gases from the various equipment there (or confirmed to be totally absent) versus the low concentrations found in the atmosphere? Seems to be a prudent precaution. They tell me that my Danish furniture pumps out lots of formaldehyde, and it's not alive, I hope.

Gary

Formaldehyde, Ammonia and Benzene Molecules on Mars?
Would Probably Mean Life.

"Speculation is that already methane is a rather strong indicator life is probably present today on Mars. Just simply based on methane. ...Formaldehyde is destroyed in the Martian atmosphere within 7.5 hours. There is no way that formaldehyde can exist and remain for a long time in the Martian atmosphere. If (formaldehyde) confirmed, possibly life on Mars today, yes." - Vittorio Formisano, Ph.D., Physicist

http://www.earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=707&category=Science