One of Saturn's moons, Enceladus, may have alien life within its sub-ice oceans, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
Scientists have discovered that ice crystals erupting from cracks near the South Pole contain complex organic molecules, similar to those that, on Earth, participate in the birth of life.
“Even if we don’t find life there, this would be an extraordinary discovery, because it raises serious questions about why life is absent when conditions are perfect,” says Dr. Nozair Khawaja of Freie Universität Berlin.
The hidden ocean and ice "geysers"
Enceladus, about 500 km in diameter, appears empty from the surface, but beneath the ice lies a vast liquid ocean. Cracks near the South Pole erupt with sprays of ice, some of which even form a ring around Saturn.
Through analysis by the Cassini spacecraft, scientists discovered that the ice crystals contain new organic molecules, including some that had not been previously discovered. This indicates that the molecules are formed within Enceladus' ocean, not due to solar radiation.
Enceladus, a prime candidate for life
According to researchers, Enceladus meets all the conditions for life: liquid water, energy from hydrothermal sources, and the necessary chemical elements.
This makes the moon one of the most promising places for the existence of extraterrestrial life, alongside Jupiter's Europa and Titan.
Next steps
ESA is planning a new mission that will collect more ice samples and even land on the lunar surface.
This would be the first time a space agency has landed on Enceladus, allowing for a closer look at conditions that could support life.
Cassini's main discoveries
The Cassini probe, which operated from 1997 to 2017, left behind a rich legacy:
discovered 6 new moons of Saturn,
studied Titan and discovered hydrocarbon lakes,
analyzed the 3D structures on Saturn's rings,
discovered the hidden ocean of Enceladus,
changed the way we understand the possibility of extraterrestrial life in our solar system.
"The Cassini mission has revolutionized the way we see where life might develop beyond Earth," says Andrew Coates, head of the Planetary Sciences Group at University College London. /GazetaExpress/
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