Cassini proves complex chemistry in Enceladus ocean

[Hurricanelover]

Cassini proves complex chemistry in Enceladus ocean

Cassini proves complex chemistry in Enceladus ocean

Scientists digging through data collected by the Cassini spacecraft have found new complex organic molecules spewing from Saturn's moon Enceladus. This is a clear sign that complex chemical reactions are taking place within its underground ocean. Some of these reactions could be part of chains...

phys.org

by European Space Agency

Scientists digging through data collected by the Cassini spacecraft have found new complex organic molecules spewing from Saturn's moon Enceladus. This is a clear sign that complex chemical reactions are taking place within its underground ocean. Some of these reactions could be part of chains that lead to even more complex, potentially biologically relevant molecules.

Published in Nature Astronomy, this discovery further strengthens the case for a dedicated European Space Agency (ESA) mission to orbit and land on Enceladus.

In 2005, Cassini found the first evidence that Enceladus has a hidden ocean beneath its icy surface. Jets of water burst from cracks close to the moon's south pole, shooting ice grains into space. Smaller than grains of sand, some of the tiny pieces of ice fall back onto the moon's surface, while others escape and form a ring around Saturn that traces Enceladus's orbit.

Lead author Nozair Khawaja explains what we already knew: "Cassini was detecting samples from Enceladus all the time as it flew through Saturn's E ring. We had already found many organic molecules in these ice grains, including precursors for amino acids.

I suspect that if there's life in our solar system it will be one of the moons of the gas giants. They have water, under water volcanism that in theory is one of the ways life started on earth and the ice shell protects it from radiation.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Cassini proves complex chemistry in Enceladus ocean

Cassini proves complex chemistry in Enceladus ocean

Scientists digging through data collected by the Cassini spacecraft have found new complex organic molecules spewing from Saturn's moon Enceladus. This is a clear sign that complex chemical reactions are taking place within its underground ocean. Some of these reactions could be part of chains...

phys.org

by European Space Agency



I suspect that if there's life in our solar system it will be one of the moons of the gas giants. They have water, under water volcanism that in theory is one of the ways life started on earth and the ice shell protects it from radiation.

I’m willing to bet that we find coral, cephalopods and jellyfish in EVERY ocean moon in our solar system

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

I’m willing to bet that we find coral, cephalopods and jellyfish in EVERY ocean moon in our solar system

Idle Curiosity Promoted by the Useless Idle Rich

What is the practical value of all this mental masturbation by Astrogeeks? Why do we have to pay for it, when so many productive opportunities go unfunded on Earth?

 

[ReinyDays]

I’m willing to bet that we find coral, cephalopods and jellyfish in EVERY ocean moon in our solar system

Respiration would leave significant amounts of oxygen in the atmosphere ... so we know photosynthesis hasn't evolved anywhere else in our solar system ... as one follows the other ...

We'll be looking for organisms far simpler than what we find on Earth ... IIRC they would be fermenters rather than oxygen breathers ...