Scientists have found the "building blocks" for life on Saturn's moon Enceladus

According to a study published this week, scientists have found the "bricks" for life on Saturn's moon Enceladus, discovering complex organic molecules.

The study, published in the journal Nature, is based on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, before plunging into the atmosphere of Saturn and completing its mission on September 15, 2017. [19659005] "This is the first-ever detection of complex organic compounds from an alien aquatic world," said Frank Postberg, lead author of the study, in a statement on the company's website. European Space Agency

SKY MOON OF SATURN ENCELADUS, A POSSIBLE HOME FOR LIFE

"The data constrain the macromolecular structure of the organic compounds detected in the ice grains and suggest the presence of the same. a thin film rich in organic matter above the oceanic water table, where the organic nucleation nuclei generated by bursting bubbles allow to probe the organic inventory of Enceladus at concentrations Increased, "Postberg and the rest of the researchers identified large fragments of organic molecules in grains of ice that were spewed out of geysers on Enceladus.

"We have found large molecular fragments that show typical structures of very complex organic molecules," added Nozair Khawaja, who also worked on the study, in the statement. "These huge molecules contain a complex network often constructed from hundreds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and possibly nitrogen atoms that form substructures in the form of carbon atoms. ring and chain. "

This is not the first time In 1965, the launch of Cassini cost $ 3.9 billion ($ 2.5 billion in pre-launch costs and $ 1.4 billion in post -launch). Years of circling, studying, and taking data on Saturn and its moons, including Titan, Saturn's largest moon.

Enceladus has already been mentioned as a possible host of life, including by NASA. In April 2017, NASA announced that the moon could support life through the presence of discovered hydrogen.

THE WORLD HERE FROM THE MOON ENCELADUS OF SATURN COMES INTO VIEW

Enceladus, known as "ocean" "Around the world," some of the similarities with the Earth could pave the way for the life.

In the Earth's oceans, deep-water organic substances can accumulate on the walls of rising air bubbles and disperse. bursts of bubbles. Scientists believe that something similar could happen on the moon of Saturn.

The results of the study, while exciting, do not prove concretely that there is life on Enceladus, but when complex molecules are combined with liquid water and hydrothermal activity.

"In my opinion, the fragments we found are of hydrothermal origin, having been processed in the hydrothermally active core of Enceladus: in the high pressures and warm temperatures we expect, it is possible that complex organic molecules may appear ". Postberg

Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia