Radiolytic Production of Methane by Microbial Life

  • Released Thursday, January 15th, 2009
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:54PM
  • ID: 10362

Animation depicting how 'extreme microbes' on Earth produce methane.

In this animation, energy produced by radioactive minerals remove hydrogen from water molecules, which are then consumed by the microbes along with carbon dioxide. The microbes then emit methane as a byproduct.

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/news/marsmethane.html

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Series

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