Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Saturn Moon Holds Recipe for Life

Life's 'building blocks' found in massive geysers

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 27, 2008 9:27 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Basic components of life like heat, organic chemicals, and water have been found on a Saturn moon, Reuters reports. A spacecraft flying over Enceladus this month spotted 500-mile-high geysers spouting off its surface, containing water vapor and the organic molecules found in living things. Though no one’s saying there’s life on Enceladus, later missions will look for liquid water under its surface.

 “The question that one would ask is: where did the organics come from?” noted a researcher. On Earth, he said, they come from “decaying biological matter,” but on Enceladus, their source may be “geochemistry going on in the interior.” Scientists say there may even be an underground ocean fueling the geysers, which are reminiscent of carbonated water with natural gas.

This photo released by NASA on March 9, 2006, shows the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus as seen from the Cassini spacecraft.
This photo released by NASA on March 9, 2006, shows the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus as seen from the Cassini spacecraft.   (AP Photo/NASA, JPL, Space Science Institute)
Saturn's moon Enceladus is seen here as a white disk across the unilluminated side of Saturn's rings (black and white stripes across the bottom of the image).
Saturn's moon Enceladus is seen here as a white disk across the unilluminated side of Saturn's rings (black and white stripes across the bottom of the image).   (AP Photo/NASA)
This image released Thursday March 13, 2008 by NASA shows a close up view by the Cassini spacecraft of the Saturn moon, Enceladus' northern pole.
This image released Thursday March 13, 2008 by NASA shows a close up view by the Cassini spacecraft of the Saturn moon, Enceladus' northern pole.   (AP Photo/NASA)
Geyser-like eruptions of ice particles and water vapor shoot out from the south pole of Saturn's moon, Enceladus.
Geyser-like eruptions of ice particles and water vapor shoot out from the south pole of Saturn's moon, Enceladus.   (AP Photo/NASA)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More on the find
Space.com

Moon's heat in 'tiger stripes'
NASA

How could it support life?
Red Orbit

 
space • extraterrestrial life • Saturn • solar system • moon • organic compounds • Enceladus • geyser

More Newser Stories

NASA Nabs Close-Ups of 'Spongy' Saturn Moon

Scientists Think Something Is Living on Saturn Moon

Saturn's Rings Vanish Today

Saturn's Moon Hints at Water

There's a Huge Moon on the Rise
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne