Scientists have recently discovered promising signs that life could potentially exist on two moons within our solar system. The icy Europa moon orbiting Jupiter and the satellite Enceladus orbiting Saturn have been found to have conditions that could support life. Oxygen production on Europa and subsurface liquid oceans on both moons are among the key factors that indicate the possibility of life. Additionally, phosphorous, an essential element for life, has been detected in plumes of ice and water ejected from Enceladus.
A recent NASA experiment further supports the idea that these moons could harbor life. The experiment revealed that signs of life, such as organic molecules like amino or nucleic acids, could be present much closer to the surface than previously believed, despite high levels of radiation. This is encouraging news for future missions aiming to search for signs of life within our solar system, as it suggests that robotic landers would not have to drill deep to find evidence of life.
Alexander Pavlov, a space scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, explained that based on their experiments, amino acids can be detected at a depth of almost 8 inches on Europa and less than a tenth of an inch on Enceladus. The experiments involved exposing amino acids to extreme cold temperatures and radiation to simulate the conditions on these moons. The results, published in the journal Astrobiology, showed that amino acids can survive long enough to be detected by a lander mission.
While no missions are currently scheduled to explore these moons for signs of life, the findings from this experiment provide valuable insights for future exploration. Pavlov emphasized the importance of cautious sampling in silica-rich regions on both Europa and Enceladus, as the rates of potential organic biomolecules’ degradation are higher in these areas compared to pure ice.
In conclusion, the possibility of life existing on Europa and Enceladus is an exciting prospect that warrants further exploration. The recent discoveries and experiments conducted by NASA scientists provide valuable information for future missions that aim to uncover the mysteries of these distant moons and potentially find evidence of life beyond Earth.
