{"id":108042,"date":"2024-09-28T19:27:49","date_gmt":"2024-09-28T12:27:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=108042"},"modified":"2024-09-28T19:27:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-28T12:27:49","slug":"scientists-believe-they-finally-know-what-happened-to-mars-missing-atmosphere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=108042","title":{"rendered":"Scientists believe they finally know what happened to Mars\u2019 missing atmosphere"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div data-testid=\"nsc-wrapper-support-us\">\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-0 hAqRAM\">\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-1 jbZASd\">\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-14 bFnbmL\">\n<h3 data-testid=\"support-nsc-title\" class=\"sc-16ay7ps-2 horJcb\">Your support helps us to tell the story<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><amp-accordion animate=\"\" class=\"i-amphtml-layout-container\" i-amphtml-layout=\"container\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"sc-16ay7ps-18 bfRLhE\">\n<h4 class=\"sc-16ay7ps-3 bOpeIR\"><button class=\"sc-16ay7ps-4 jyAPhF closed-trigger\" data-testid=\"support-nsc-dropdown\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-8 kDWcOx\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-7 fiytbn\">Find out more<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 bNRJWU sc-culv3z-0 jIhHch sc-16ay7ps-5 jJxovk\"><use href=\"#d5d9764c65d2cfa2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><button class=\"sc-16ay7ps-4 jyAPhF open-trigger\" data-testid=\"support-nsc-dropdown\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-8 kDWcOx\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-7 fiytbn\">Close<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 bNRJWU sc-culv3z-0 jIhHch sc-16ay7ps-5 sc-16ay7ps-6 jJxovk cOIZLt\"><use href=\"#d5d9764c65d2cfa2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/h4>\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-19 gdfHuZ\">\n<div>\n<p data-testid=\"support-nsc-collapsed-content\" class=\"sc-16ay7ps-9 hYsSsu\">Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.<\/p>\n<p>Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.<\/p>\n<p><b>Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.<\/b><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"support-nsc-author\" class=\"sc-16ay7ps-10 kOmKsa\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/support-us\/louise-thomas.png\" alt=\"Head shot of Louise Thomas\" class=\"sc-16ay7ps-13 jgqbGv\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/amp-accordion><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/mars\">Mars<\/a> lost its atmosphere billions of years ago, it transformed from a planet that could have supported life into a cold desert world.<\/p>\n<p>But exactly what happened to the thick air that once surrounded the red planet has puzzled scientists for decades.<\/p>\n<p>Now researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US believe the answer may be \u201chiding in plain sight\u201d, within the planet\u2019s iron-rich clay.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-482ou5-2 eOHevC image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cpcmmN\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"3\" class=\"sc-482ou5-0 emCGJR\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/09\/25\/19\/2548af8ab5280188d5a09863c94eefe2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI3MzAwNzcy-2.73279947.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/09\/25\/19\/2548af8ab5280188d5a09863c94eefe2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI3MzAwNzcy-2.73279947.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/09\/25\/19\/2548af8ab5280188d5a09863c94eefe2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI3MzAwNzcy-2.73279947.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Mars\u2019 missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight, scientists believe (ESA\/Nasa\/Hubble Space Telescope)\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 iSVhwZ inline-gallery-btn\" on=\"tap:auto-image-gallery,inline-image-carousel.goToSlide(index=0)\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-gallery-length=\"3\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 hiCdLa liXvvg\">Mars\u2019 missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight, scientists believe (ESA\/Nasa\/Hubble Space Telescope)<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 izyooE\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->PA Media<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>They propose that much of the missing Martian atmosphere was absorbed by the planet\u2019s crust \u2013 in the form of methane \u2013 some 3.5 billion years ago.<\/p>\n<p>This raises hope that one day, the methane stored in Martian clay could be recovered and used as fuel in future missions between Mars and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/earth\">Earth<\/a>, the researchers said.<\/p>\n<p>Oliver Jagoutz, professor of geology in MIT\u2019s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), said: \u201cThis methane could still be present and maybe even used as an energy source on Mars in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It is thought that Mars once had a thick atmosphere, liquid water and a strong magnetic field \u2013 the key conditions that allow life to thrive on Earth.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-482ou5-2 eOHevC image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cpcmmN\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"3\" class=\"sc-482ou5-0 lptPTn\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/09\/25\/19\/24224746-187c687a-9bb1-4e29-9421-73e7785d84d7.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/09\/25\/19\/24224746-187c687a-9bb1-4e29-9421-73e7785d84d7.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/09\/25\/19\/24224746-187c687a-9bb1-4e29-9421-73e7785d84d7.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Rocks on Mars would have interacted with water containing CO2 from the atmosphere. Researchers said that over several billion years, this process could have stored enough CO2 in the clay surface, in the form of methane, to explain most of the CO2 that went missing from the planet\u2019s early atmosphere ( Joshua Murray\/Oliver Jagoutz, et al\/Science Advances)\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 iSVhwZ inline-gallery-btn\" on=\"tap:auto-image-gallery,inline-image-carousel.goToSlide(index=2)\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-gallery-length=\"3\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 hiCdLa liXvvg\">Rocks on Mars would have interacted with water containing CO2 from the atmosphere. Researchers said that over several billion years, this process could have stored enough CO2 in the clay surface, in the form of methane, to explain most of the CO2 that went missing from the planet\u2019s early atmosphere ( Joshua Murray\/Oliver Jagoutz, et al\/Science Advances)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Researchers argue that over time, water on the Martian surface trickled down through the rocks, setting off a slow chain reaction that drew carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere and converted it into methane, a form of carbon.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Joshua Murray, who recently graduated from MIT\u2019s EAPS, said: \u201cAt this time in Mars\u2019 history, we think\u00a0CO2\u00a0is everywhere, in every nook and cranny, and water percolating through the rocks is full of CO2\u00a0too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The researchers said that water would have first reacted with a mineral rich in iron known as olivine, which is abundantly available on Mars, to create iron oxide, giving the planet its orange-reddish colour.<\/p>\n<p>This would have allowed the free hydrogen molecules from water to combine with carbon dioxide to form methane, they added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-1wzq3bw-0 sc-1wzq3bw-2 iKYdHn fwyRXf\"><span class=\"sc-i07cwn-0 bwJFag\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"7892fd45317565c6\" viewbox=\"0 0 80 47\"><path fill=\"#ec1a2e\" d=\"M21.18 46.99c9.4 0 17.18-7.73 17.18-17.13 0-9.46-7.72-17.12-17.12-17.12A17.2 17.2 0 0 0 3.99 29.86c0 3.74 1.29 7.47 3.48 10.5l-.13.12A23.6 23.6 0 0 1 1.29 24.4c0-12.75 10.36-23.3 23.1-23.3a24 24 0 0 1 11.53 2.89l.57-.96A26 26 0 0 0 24.33 0 24.3 24.3 0 0 0 0 24.4c0 14.09 9.72 22.59 21.18 22.59m41.47 0c9.4 0 17.18-7.73 17.18-17.13 0-9.46-7.72-17.12-17.12-17.12a17.2 17.2 0 0 0-17.25 17.12c0 3.74 1.29 7.47 3.48 10.5l-.13.12a23.6 23.6 0 0 1-6.05-16.08c0-12.75 10.36-23.3 23.1-23.3a24 24 0 0 1 11.53 2.89l.58-.96A26 26 0 0 0 65.8 0a24.33 24.33 0 0 0-24.33 24.4c0 14.09 9.72 22.59 21.18 22.59\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p>In some ways, Mars&#8217; missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Dr Joshua Murray<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, over time, the olivine would have slowly transformed into a type of iron rich clay known as smectite, the researchers said.<\/p>\n<p>Previous research by the team has shown that smectites can store carbon for \u201cbillions of years\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Murray said: \u201cThese smectite clays have so much capacity to store carbon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo then we used existing knowledge of how these minerals are stored in clays on Earth, and extrapolate to say: if the Martian surface has this much clay in it, how much methane can you store in those clays?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The researchers calculated that smectites on the red planet could hold up to 1.7 bar of carbon dioxide, which would be equivalent to around 80% of early Martian atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>Prof Jagoutz said: \u201cBased on our findings on Earth, we show that similar processes likely operated on Mars, and that copious amounts of atmospheric CO2\u00a0could have transformed to methane and been sequestered in clays.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr Murray added: \u201cWe find that estimates of global clay volumes on Mars are consistent with a significant fraction of Mars\u2019 initial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/co2\">CO2<\/a> being sequestered as organic compounds within the clay-rich crust.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn some ways, Mars\u2019 missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The research is published in the journal Science Advances.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/space\/mars-missing-atmosphere-hidden-clay-crust-b2620408.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your support helps us to tell the story Find out moreClose Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth. 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