Whether there is life in the universe is a question that has plagued man for thousands of years. The American space agency Nasa is one step closer to the answer after it discovered substances on one of Saturn's moons (Enkelad) that indicate that there could be life on it, which means that there should also be conditions on it that would could make life possible.
Us says: We are not alone! On Saturn's moon Enceladus should be life and conditions for it. Namely, they found compounds on it that suggest that it is under hers ice shell – covers it completely the ocean - life. In the eyes of scientists, Enceladus has been around for a long time one of the most suitable candidates for life in our solar system. She is Saturnian the sixth largest moon, which is 1,420 million kilometers from Earth. It was discovered by a British astronomer in 1789 William Herschel.
READ MORE: Lego pays tribute to the women of NASA - now also as Lego figures
NASA came to this revolutionary knowledge with the help of space the Cassini spacecraft, which encountered a massive cloud of water that flew from the surface of the said moon. The samples proved it the presence of hydrogen – this is considered a useful nutrient by some the oldest forms of life on Earth –, which can only come from hydrothermal reactions between hot rocks and water under the moon ice crust. Therefore, if life actually existed on Enceladus, the creatures would feed on hydrogen (this is for microorganisms, which are sweets for humans) and emitted methane, the presence of which was also detected. More. Cassini also found the elements carbon dioxide.
Both the latter compound and hydrogen are key to methanogenesis, which keeps microbes alive in the depths of the Earth. "Now we know that it is not only about warm and wet environment, but that there is also food for life," he explained dr. Lewis Dartnell. Enceladus therefore has all the necessary ingredients for life. In addition to this celestial body, two others are mentioned as a possible replacement for the Earth in our solar system Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa. All three had or have the conditions for living or necessary fuel for the ecosystem.
Gallery - Saturn's moon Enceladus:
More information:
nasa.gov