Has the potential for life: scientists have explored an icy moon of Saturn
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Scientists believe that Saturn’s moon Enceladus has the potential for life. A team of German scientists discovered the necessary elements in water for this process, the findings were published in the journal Nature. The Cassini spacecraft studied water crystals that were “thrown out” by a geyser from the internal ocean of Saturn’s satellite. Enceladus is the sixth largest natural moon of Saturn. The internal ocean, which scientists have discovered and studied, occupies approximately one-seventh of its area. Photo from the Cassini spacecraft In the lunar cryovolcanic plume, researchers discovered the main substances contained in ocean water (sodium, potassium, chlorine, hydrogen carbonate, carbonate, phosphorus ions) and its alkaline pH (3.11). The data was collected from 2004 to 2017, when Cassini entered Saturn’s orbit to study the planet, its rings and moons. The same team previously confirmed that Enceladus’ icy grains contain a rich assortment of minerals and complex organic compounds. In particular, the ingredients for amino acids associated with life as it is known to scientists. “This is the first time that such an important element has been discovered in an ocean outside the Earth,” said Frank Postberg, author of the study and a planetary scientist from the Free University of Berlin. Phosphorus plays a fundamental role in the structure of DNA and is a vital part of cell membranes and molecules. They are responsible for energy and exist in all forms of life on Earth. Before conducting research, scientists modeled Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Researchers from Europe and Japan discovered that phosphorus exists on it in a concentration 100 times higher than in the Earth’s oceans, and is mainly in the composition of phosphate water-soluble compounds. But scientists emphasize that the presence of phosphorus, complex organic compounds, water and other fundamental building blocks of life is only evidence that there is a place similar to Earth in terms of conditions. Life, neither past nor present, has been confirmed anywhere outside of Earth. Read also: NASA showed new pictures of the universe created with the help of several telescopes. PHOTO
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