Curiosity can not Find Methane

NASA's Curiosity rover, after extensive sample runs, has reported that the Martian atmosphere contains no methane. This is a bit disconcerting, because previous data from the U.S. and international scientists had found positive results for methane. 

From the article:

• "This important result will help direct our efforts to examine the possibility of life on Mars.  It reduces the probability of current methane-producing Martian microbes, but this addresses only one type of microbial metabolism. As we know, there are many types of terrestrial microbes that don't generate methane." said Michael Meyer, NASA's lead scientist for Mars exploration. 

This was not the first time Curiosity  had looked for the gas - the rover has tested the atmosphere six times previously.  None were positive. 

There is more in the Science Daily article HERE