New Discoveries Boost Chances of Life on Saturn's Moon
Recent scientific investigations have discovered new organic compounds in the icy geysers on Saturn's moon, Enceladus. These discoveries strengthen the argument that this distant moon might support conditions for life.
The evidence was gathered during a swift and close encounter with Enceladus by a spacecraft in 2008. This small moon, just one of Saturn's 274 satellites, is considered a top contender in the quest for life elsewhere in the universe due to its concealed ocean and the streams of water that gush from fissures near its south pole.
Life or Habitable?
While Enceladus might be an environment suitable for life, there is no suggestion that life actually exists there. There is a substantial difference between a place being habitable and being inhabited. Enceladus is believed to be habitable, but whether or not life is present is still unknown.
An international group of scientists decided to undertake a new analysis of the tiny ice grains found in the moon's geysers as the spacecraft passed through them. These grains were much younger than the older geyser particles that eventually ended up in one of Saturn's outermost rings.
High-Speed Analysis
The new grains smashed into the spacecraft's cosmic dust analyzer at an incredible speed of 40,000 mph, which was faster than the older particles. This higher speed enabled a more precise view of the chemical compounds present.
There were already known organic molecules in the older geyser grains, but their age led to uncertainty about whether they had been altered over time by space radiation. Some of the same molecules were found in the new grains, confirming they originated from the moon’s subterranean sea. Additionally, new chemical compounds were discovered. The findings were documented in a notable astronomy journal.
Life Under Ice
Enceladus, a tiny ice-covered water world with a rocky core barely 310 miles across, is believed to have hydrothermal vents on its ocean floor, potentially similar to those in the Arctic. The moon's jets of water vapor and frozen particles extend thousands of miles into space.
Scientists are certain that these molecules come from the underground ocean of Enceladus, enhancing its potential to support life.
Future Exploration
Scientists are advocating for new missions to further explore Enceladus. The spacecraft that collected the data was deliberately crashed into Saturn in 2017 after a joint mission.
Having a variety of organic compounds on an alien water world is an incredible discovery. There are already plans for a future mission to land on Enceladus. Another spacecraft is currently on its way to another promising target in the search for ingredients for life: Jupiter's moon Europa. It is expected to begin orbiting Jupiter in the coming decades with dozens of Europa flybys.
Underground oceans on moons “are perhaps the best candidates for the emergence of extraterrestrial life in our solar system. This work only confirms the need for further studies,” said a physics professor who was not involved in the latest findings.