Complex Organic Molecules Bubble From Saturn's Enceladus Moon

The quest for extraterrestrial life has taken a big step forward with the discovery of complex organic molecules on Saturn's icy moon, Enceladus. Using data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, researchers discovered that cracks in Enceladus' surface eject large, carbon-rich organic molecules – the cornerstones of life. The find reinforces the idea that Endeculadus could house ideal conditions for sustaining life.

"Once again, we are blown away by Enceladus: before, we only identified the simplest organic molecules containing a few carbon atoms, but even" We have now found organic molecules with masses more than 200 units of atomic mass, more than ten times more than methane. "With complex organic molecules emanating from its ocean of liquid water, this molecule is very intriguing," says Dr. Christopher Glein. is the only body outside Earth known to simultaneously satisfy all the basic requirements for life as we know it. "

Until NASA's Cassini mission, we knew very little about the moon Saturn Enceladus. In 2005, mission data revealed that Enceladus has many geysers that lie along cracks in its southern polar region and eject plumes of water vapor and ice. These geysers come from features known as "tiger stripes" which is a set of four hot fractures in the icy surface of the moon. The presence of geysers and fine droplets of water, ice particles and simple organic molecules that came to them from a massive underwater ocean hidden under the thick crust of the moon.

Now, for the first time, researchers have detected and complex organic molecules on the surface of Enceladus. Molecular hydrogen is believed to have been created by the interaction between groundwater and the rocky nucleus of the moon.

"Hydrogen provides a source of chemical energy supporting the microbes that live in the oceans near hydrothermal vents," said Dr. Hunter Waite. "Once you have 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 in organic chemistry beyond our expectations!"