The study published by NASA is once again such a molecule To his presence Found evidence is an essential component of life. Of course, until now scientists have doubted, or more precisely, that they knew that the water vapor emerging from Saturn’s moon Enceladus (which Webb had previously observed) is rich in organic compounds, some of which are important for life as we know it. However, by analyzing data collected by the Cassini space probe, they have now found another such molecule, hydrogen cyanide.
The researchers also found evidence that the ocean fueling the explosions hidden beneath Enceladus’ icy outer crust contains a huge source of chemical energy. This as yet unknown source exists in the form of organic compounds, some of which serve as “fuel” for living organisms on Earth. Results recently published in the journal Nature Astronomy suggest that there may be a lot more of this chemical energy inside the young moon than previously thought; The more energy available, the more likely life is to reproduce and survive.
“Not only does Enceladus appear to meet the basic requirements for habitation, but we also now have an idea of how and by what chemical pathway complex biomolecules could form there.” – said Jonah Peter, lead author of the research. “The discovery of hydrogen cyanide was particularly exciting because it represents the starting point for most theories about the origin of life.” he added.
In contrast to previous research – Which used laboratory experiments and geochemical modeling They relied on detailed statistical analyzes during the new study. On this occasion, they examined data from the space probe’s spectrometer, an instrument that studied gases, ions and ice particles around Saturn.
“There are many potential puzzle pieces that can be put together when trying to reconcile observed data. We used mathematical and statistical modeling to figure out which combination of puzzle pieces would best match the shot configuration and get the most out of the data without over-interpreting the data set.” Peter explained.
At the moment, nothing is certain, especially regarding the creation of life on Enceladus or other celestial bodies, however it is interesting to think that perhaps we are not alone in the universe.
“There are two possibilities: either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” /Arthur Charles Clarke
