Great news from Saturn's moon Enceladus in the search for life in space
Cassini plume data and lab experiments suggest individual ice grains could reveal salts, organics and possible biosignatures more easily than expected.
- On Friday, Science Advances published two studies suggesting Saturn's moon Enceladus could harbor life, as new analysis of ice plumes reveals the moon naturally prepares samples for easier detection.
- Saturn's moon Enceladus features a hidden global ocean with plumes ejecting ice particles into space, providing the only extraterrestrial 'body of water' from which scientists can directly analyze samples.
- Led by Frank Postberg, researchers found 'Enceladus actually does a lot of the work for us' by separating and concentrating oceanic constituents into ice grains that accelerate to 1,000 km/h.
- Nozair Khawaja stated 'this was really a surprise to us,' as studies indicate geochemical conditions on Enceladus could support ancient metabolic systems even in highly alkaline environments with pH values of 10 or 11.
- Future spacecraft could identify biosignatures by analyzing individual ice particles, which Postberg described as 'that is great news in the search for life' using currently available technology.
32 Articles
32 Articles
A study by scientists from Germany and the United States showed that Earth's bacteria Methanothermoccus okinawensis are able to survive and reproduce under conditions that simulate Saturn Encelad's satellite. According to a publication in Science Advances, an ice satellite found signs of a alkaline soda ocean where hydrogen is formed during hydrothermal reactions and transmits RIA News. During the experiment, the carbon and energy exchange of ba…
Two recent studies suggest that microbes exist in the ocean of the ice moon Enceladus and may be more easily detected than previously thought.
The Eismond Enceladus is one of the most promising places for extraterrestrial life. A German research team mimics the conditions in the laboratory and marvels at the growth of a deep-sea individual.
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HandelsblattHere you will find information on the topic "Is there extraterrestrial life?". Read now "Saturn-Moon: Conditions for life cheaper than assumed."
The Ice Moon Enceladus is one of the few places in our solar system whose conditions allow the emergence of life. The results of a new study amaze the researchers.
Saturn's icy moon separates and concentrates by itself the components of its underground ocean and throws them into space, where we can easily find them. Meanwhile, new experiments show that certain terrestrial microorganisms could survive in conditions very similar to those of its watersMarte, Europe, Enceladus, Titan, Ganymede, Callisto, Triton, Pluto... They are some of the places in the Solar System where scientists seek, or at least suspect…
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