Enceladus: A Saturnian Moon With Potential for LifeEnceladus, one of Saturn's many moons, holds promise in the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life. This icy moon harbors a vast liquid water ocean beneath its surface, a key ingredient for life as we know it.Cassini, a collaborative mission between space agencies, revealed Enceladus' secrets during its exploration of Saturn from 2004 to 2017. Cassini discovered geysers erupting at the moon's south pole, spewing ice grains and water vapor from
  • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.worldEnglish
    31·
    vor 2 Monaten

    I’m guessing that the assumption is that the water protects any life from the radiation from Saturn?

    Or is the moon far enough away that that’s not an issue that needs to be protected from?

      • TimeSquirrel@kbin.social
        13·
        vor 2 Monaten

        life needs light

        Sea floor extremophiles: exist

        Enceladus’ core likely interacts with the ocean through hydrothermal vents, similar to structures found on Earth’s ocean floor. These vents are believed to have played a role in the origin of life on our planet.

        There are lifeforms on Earth that still live off these vents.

        • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
          6·
          vor 2 Monaten

          Right, life needs energy. On earth, that’s most often from sunlight, but there are magma vent extremophiles using heat, and there are fungi that use nuclear radiation.

      • MonkderDritte@feddit.deEnglish
        4·
        vor 2 Monaten

        Both are valid, the sun can’t be too far away life needs light a energy source.

        Which Enceladus – as moon of a gas giant – has plenty, as tidal forces.