An ocean on Saturn’s moon could hold life
Alien life may be thriving in a warm underground ocean on Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus, research suggests.
Scientists say tidal forces could have kept the sea liquid for billions of years, enough for organisms to have developed.
This year NASA spacecraft Cassini found the first evidence of chemical reactions deep below the frozen crust, suggesting an environment capable of supporting life.
The French study is based on a computer model using Cassini’s observations, which showed Enceladus has an ocean that is salty and has organic molecules. The research was published in Nature Astronomy.
Planetary scientist Dr. Gael Choblet and colleagues explored the possibility this additional heating comes from the effect of tidal forces acting on the highly porous core.
He said: “What we show is hydrothermal processes probably provide means to have efficient interactions between rocks and hot water in a large volume deep within the moon.”
“What had been shown earlier is hydrothermal processes were very likely occurring right now within Enceladus. What we show in our study is the context of this activity.”
“We also suggest this activity is relatively stable – for at least tens of millions of years.”
Choblet added the life expectancy of the ocean and – perhaps more importantly – how long the hydrothermal activity has been occurring would be key to the emergence of microbes and other organisms.