Earth  ID: 10362

Radiolytic Production of Methane by Microbial Life

Released on January 15, 2009
Animation depicting how 'extreme microbes' on Earth produce methane.
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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.
 

Related

Possible Methane Sources and Sinks on Mars

For More Information

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

Credits

Chris Smith (UMBC): Lead Animator
Chris Smith (UMBC): Producer
Lisa Pratt (Indiana University): Scientist
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10362

This item is part of this series:
Mars Methane

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Methane
SVS >> Microbes
NASA Science >> Earth