Researchers from Freie Universität Berlin have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the potential for extraterrestrial life in our solar system. Using data from the Cassini space mission, the team has detected phosphorus in the subsurface ocean of Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. This finding suggests that the moon’s ocean contains a key building block for life.
The presence of phosphates in the form of phosphorus is essential for the creation of DNA and RNA, as well as cell membranes and ATP, the universal energy carrier in cells. This vital substance is crucial for life as we know it on Earth. Previous geochemical models were divided on whether Enceladus’ ocean contained significant quantities of phosphates. However, the Cassini measurements leave no doubt that substantial amounts of phosphates are present in the moon’s ocean water.
The discovery of high phosphate concentrations in Enceladus’ ocean satisfies one of the essential requirements for celestial bodies to be considered habitable. The next step is to determine if the habitable ocean is actually inhabited. The researchers are eager to return to Enceladus to uncover any signs of life.
The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft, deployed by NASA and ESA, was responsible for the initial discovery of Enceladus’ subsurface liquid water ocean a few years ago. This ocean was found to contain a vast variety of reactive and complex organic compounds, as well as indications of hydrothermal environments on the seafloor. The recent discovery of phosphates further enhances the moon’s potential as a habitable environment.
The research team also conducted lab experiments to investigate how Enceladus maintains such high concentrations of phosphates in its ocean. These experiments, carried out in collaboration with teams in Japan and the US, demonstrated that enhanced phosphate mineral solubility is responsible for the high concentrations. The conditions necessary for this process exist not only on Enceladus but also throughout the outer solar system.
The prevalence of worlds with oceans beneath a surface layer of ice has been one of the most significant discoveries in planetary science in recent years. Such worlds, including Enceladus, Ganymede, Titan, and even Pluto, contain a vast amount of water and significantly expand the number of potentially habitable worlds in the galaxy. Unlike planets like Earth, which require specific distances from their host stars to maintain the right temperature for water, worlds with interior oceans can occur over a wider range of distances.
The study, titled “Detection of phosphates originating from Enceladus’s ocean,” was published in the scientific journal Nature. Led by Professor Frank Postberg, the team also included researchers from Freie Universität Berlin.
This discovery marks a significant step forward in the search for extraterrestrial life. While life has not yet been found on Enceladus, the researchers are hopeful that future missions will provide further insight into the moon’s habitability.