Saturn’s Moon Enceladus Spouts Complex Organics That Could Hold Clues to Life

Cassini data show Enceladus’ plumes contain complex organics from its subsurface ocean.

Saturn’s Moon Enceladus Spouts Complex Organics That Could Hold Clues to Life

Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute/Lunar and Planetary Institute

Icy plumes on Enceladus’ surface release organic molecules into space, hinting at potential habitability

Click Here to Add Gadgets360 As A Trusted Source As A Preferred Source On Google
Highlights
  • Organic molecules detected in Enceladus’ plumes
  • Cassini data confirms subsurface ocean chemistry
  • Plumes offer insight into potential habitability
Advertisement

Saturn's icy moon Enceladus has been found to eject organic molecules from its geysers. Around twenty years after NASA's Cassini spacecraft first sampled the plumes. These molecules contain carbon, are part of chemical reactions that can form life's building blocks. The plumes, fed by a subsurface ocean beneath Enceladus' fractured surface. This expels water vapour into space, forming part of Saturn's E-ring. New analysis of archived Cassini data brings to light a few information that pristine ice grains in the plumes carry these organics directly from the ocean, untouched by radiation.

Cassini Data Confirms Enceladus' Ocean Shoots Organic Molecules That Could Support Life

According to a report in Nature Astronomy, a group of experts led by Nozair Khawaja at Freie Universität Berlin and the University of Stuttgart re-evaluated Cassini's Cosmic Dust Analyser data from 2008. Their study brings out that organic molecules in the ice grains match those found in the E-ring. It proves that they originate from Enceladus' ocean. In addition, the team also finds aliphatic and cyclic compounds, ethers, and potential nitrogen- and oxygen-bearing molecules.

Scientists' trust in the search for life beyond Earth – these findings seal the deal on Enceladus' status as a prime target. Nevertheless, radiation on the moon's surface can also create organics. Also, the direct plume measurements indicate that a subsurface ocean is chemically active.

Experts note that these molecules represent pieces of the puzzle along pathways that, on Earth. This drives to amino acids and other life-related compounds. Moreover, this discovery facilitates a remarkable insight into how icy moons may host prebiotic chemistry.

The proposed European Space Agency orbiter can leave no stone unturned by sampling Enceladus' ice directly to conclude whether its ocean supports the complex chemistry related to essential life.

 

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Gadgets 360 Staff
The resident bot. If you email me, a human will respond. More
Amazon Sale 2025: Top Deals on Electric Toothbrushes During the Great Indian Festival Sale
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta Early Access Goes Live as Players Report Cheating

Advertisement

Follow Us

Advertisement

© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.
Trending Products »
Latest Tech News »