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Scientists say that the icy celestial body is the only world in the solar system other than Earth with all the ingredients necessary for life.
The Natural Satellite Pumps Organic Molecules – a forerunner of microbial life – its ocean-like liquid sub-surface, reads from a Nasa probe show.
The researchers said that they were "washed away" by the study, adding that the findings could direct future searches for extraterrestrial life
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The best hope of humanity to find extraterrestrial life is the moon Enceladus of Saturn (photo). Scientists say the frozen celestial body is the only world in the solar system other than the Earth with all the ingredients necessary for life
The types of life forms that could live on Enceladus would not be little green men – but would be similar to microbes living in extreme conditions on Earth – such as volcanic vents on the ocean floor.
"The discoveries have great significance for the next generation of exploration," said study co-author Dr. Christopher Glein, a researcher at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
"A future spacecraft could fly through the Enceladus plume, and analyze these complex organic molecules using a high-resolution mass spectrometer to help us determine how they were made."
"We must be cautious , but it is exciting to think that this discovery indicates that the biological synthesis of Enceladus organic molecules – 628 million miles from Earth – is extremely cold and has ice volcanoes through its cracked surface crust
Scientists have long suspected that the moon could host extraterrestrial life since the discovery of its underground ocean by NASA's Cassini spacecraft in 2015.
The moon regularly ejects plumes of water and ice particles from its ocean global via hydrothermal vents
studied the readings of one of these plumes that was collected by Cassini.
The natural satellite pumps organic molecules from its liquid submarine ocean, readings from a poll of the NASA. The molecules are ejected by surface jets and hydrothermal vents (impression of the artist)
The instruments on the probe have made measurements in the plume and E ring of Saturn, which is formed by plume ice grains escaping the gravity of Enceladus. complex, carbon-rich organic molecules are ejected from cracks in the ice surface of Enceladus
Molecules have masses greater than 200 atomic mass units – ten times heavier than methane
QU & # 39; IS IT AN ENCELADE?
Enceladus (photo) Enceladus is the sixth largest moon in Saturn, 313 miles wide (504 kilometers).
It is an icy satellite with hydrothermal activity – a rare combination – with vents vomiting ice particles and water vapor from a global ocean buried beneath the frozen crust of the moon.
A handful of worlds would have oceans of liquid water under their frozen shell, but only Enceladus sprays its ocean in space. can sample it.
According to NASA observations, the plume includes organic compounds, volatile gases, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, salts and silica.
The microbes of our planet produce these compounds or use them for growth. Tiny organisms live in the hidden ocean of Enceladus. This means that Enceladus may seem "inhospitable" like the other moons of Saturn, but he is a prime candidate in our quest for extraterrestrial life
Scientists believe that chemical reactions between the rock core of the moon and the hot water of its subsoil are linked to these complex molecules.
"Complex organic molecules do not necessarily provide a livable environment, but they are a necessary precursor to life," Dr. Frank Postberg of the University of Heidelberg, who led the research, told The Independent. "Previously, we did not know if complex organic chemistry is happening on Encelade – and now we know." Liquid water, gaseous hydrogen and simple organic molecules – all essential ingredients for life – had already been discovered on the moon
Scientists have long suspected that Enceladus could harbor extraterrestrial life since the Cassini probe Nasa discovered that the icy body has an underground ocean in 2015. This artist's impression depicts the probe passing through one of the hydrothermal plumes. d & # 39; Enceladus.
But the discovery of complex organic molecules, precursors of the evolution of mic Simple dresses means that the moon now has all it takes for "We are, once again, blown away by Encelade," said Dr. Glein.
"Previously, we only identified the simplest organic molecules containing a few carbon atoms, but even that was very intriguing."
"With complex organic molecules emanating from its ocean of liquid water, this moon is the only body outside the Earth known to simultaneously satisfy all the basic requirements of life as we know it. "
While flying over Enceladus by Cassini in October 2015, the probe detected molecular hydrogen while the spacecraft was flying through the plume
The Moon regularly ejects plumes of water and water. ice particles from its global ocean via hydrothermal vents. The research team studied closely the readings of one of these plumes collected by Cassini (impression of the artist)
Previous overflights have provided evidence of an ocean Global underground located above a rocky core
by the geochemical interaction between water and rocks in hydrothermal environments.
"Hydrogen provides a source of chemical energy supporting the microbes that live in the oceans near hydrothermal vents," said Dr. Hunter Waite, co-author of the study. identified a potential source of food for microbes, the next question to ask is "what is the nature of complex organic compounds in the ocean?"
"This article represents the first step in this understanding – complexity of organic chemistry beyond our expectations!
The complete results of the study were published in the journal Nature.
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