Scientists have found what is perhaps the most promising evidence that life might exist on Enceladus, Saturn’s sixth-largest moon. NASA’s Cassini spacecraft gathered data indicating the presence of phosphates—key elements for the existence of life—on the moon.
According to scientists, phosphates dissolve in the liquid ocean on Enceladus as salts. The Daily Mail reported further details on this discovery.
Enceladus is a truly unique place in the Solar System. Its icy surface features long snake-like cracks that shoot huge plumes of ice particles and water vapor into space.
Experts from Freie Universität in Berlin stated that the discovery of phosphorus on Enceladus represents a “giant leap forward” in the search for extraterrestrial life in our Solar System.
“There was previously no consensus on whether phosphates were present in Enceladus’ ocean. But Cassini’s measurements leave no doubt that significant amounts of this crucial substance are present in the ocean water,” said Professor Frank Postberg.
Phosphate is a natural source of phosphorus, an element that provides about a quarter of all nutrients necessary for plant growth. It is essential for the creation of DNA, RNA, cell membranes, and compounds called ATP, which are universal energy carriers in cells.
Phosphate is also one of the six elements essential for life, along with carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur.
“We now know that Enceladus has the right conditions for life to emerge,” added Professor Postberg.
Cassini explored Saturn and its famous moons for over a decade. Not only did it capture images of Enceladus’ plumes, but it also flew right through them.
Professor Postberg and his colleagues analyzed data collected by Cassini’s onboard cosmic dust analyzer, an instrument capable of detecting dust particles as small as a thousandth of a millimeter. The scientists estimate that phosphorus may be available in concentrations at least 100 times higher than in Earth’s oceans.
So, if life exists or existed on Enceladus, it is most likely in the liquid water layer. To confirm or refute this hypothesis, a new space mission will soon be sent to Enceladus.
