"Saturn's Moon: Toxic Gas Discovery Boosts Possibility of Life"

1 min read
Source: Yahoo! Voices
"Saturn's Moon: Toxic Gas Discovery Boosts Possibility of Life"
Photo: Yahoo! Voices
TL;DR

New evidence suggests that Saturn's moon Enceladus may be more likely to sustain life than previously thought. Astronomers have found strong evidence of hydrogen cyanide, an essential molecule for forming amino acids, in the plumes of water ice erupting from fractures near the moon's south pole. The presence of oxidized organic compounds also suggests multiple pathways for sustaining life in Enceladus' subsurface ocean. While scientists are still far from a definitive conclusion, this study provides further support for the potential habitability of Enceladus.

Share this article

Want the full story? Read the original reporting

Read on Yahoo! Voices