# @planetary_pan on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CZAE46Pgq4y
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/33110398-planetary-pan-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3e859b3705.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-01-21T17:53:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Beth Johnson (@planetarypan) — https://gondola.cc/planetarypan

## Caption

https://buff.ly/3tMABzd
Scientists have been analyzing recent data collected by NASA’s Curiosity rover that has led to headlines everywhere being less than circumspect and a little clickbait-y.

While analyzing samples taken from the Highfield drill hole on Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, researchers found what they have deemed an “intriguing” carbon signature. They found that the powder in this sample was strongly depleted in carbon 13, one of two stable carbon isotopes. Here on Earth, depletion of this sort can be caused by the ultraviolet degradation of biological methane.

Now, about those headlines. Yes, on Earth, we see a depletion of carbon 13 due to the breakdown of biogenic methane, whose composition is CH4 — one carbon to four hydrogen. The methane is broken down, and the carbon escapes into the atmosphere. However, there are two other possibilities for this process: a cosmic dust cloud or that same ultraviolet breakdown but of carbon dioxide instead of methane. And carbon dioxide can easily come from volcanic activity on Mars, which definitely would not mean life.

No counting Martian chickens before you find eggshells or skeletons.

IMAGE: This image shows the Highfield drill hole made by NASA’s Curiosity rover as it was collecting a sample on Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale crater on Mars. The image was taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager on the 2,247th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. CREDIT: NASA/Caltech-JPL/MSSS

#planetaryscience #mars #redplanet #astrobiology #space #science #nasa #marsrover #curiosity #curiosityrover #galecrater #geology #chemistry

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## Tags

curiosity, redplanet, planetaryscience, curiosityrover, galecrater, marsrover, science, nasa, geology, space, mars, astrobiology, chemistry

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