Detecting Signs of Life on Enceladus: A Viable Possibility

Future spacecraft flying close to Saturn's moon Enceladus may be able to detect amino acids, essential for life on Earth, in the plumes erupting from its surface, according to a study by the University of California San Diego. Scientists built a spectrometer to study the chemical composition of ice grains impacting an electrically conductive surface at high speeds. They found that a spacecraft could fly at speeds up to 4.2 kilometers per second through Enceladus' plume to detect intact amino acids if they exist on the moon. However, detecting amino acids would not confirm the presence of alien life, as life as we know it involves a complex set of molecules.