Scientists diving into NASA’s Cassini data have spotted complex organic molecules swirling in the hidden ocean of Enceladus, Saturn’s tiny icy moon. Though just 500 kilometers wide and cloaked in a thick shell of ice, this speck of a world is now a leading candidate for extraterrestrial life.
Between 2004 and 2017, Cassini flew past Enceladus multiple times, detecting saltwater plumes erupting through cracks in its surface. By analyzing those chemical signatures, researchers confirmed the presence of salt, methane, carbon dioxide and even phosphorus – crucial ingredients for life.
Researchers behind the latest study say this cosmic cocktail changes the game for our search beyond Earth. With these organics on the table, Enceladus joins Europa and Mars in the hunt for habitable environments in our solar system.
For young global citizens, tech innovators and curious travelers, Enceladus is a thrilling frontier. Future missions aiming to sample its icy plumes directly could bring us one step closer to answering: Are we alone in the universe?
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More ingredients for life discovered in ocean on Saturn moon
cgtn.com
