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According to a new study which the journal Nature recently published, it seems that scientists may have finally found the clearest evidence of alien life on Enceladus, Saturn’s moon. The idea is based on large organic molecules that have been blasted into space on it. Apparently, they contain all requirements for life as we know it. NASA’s spacecraft Cassini is the one that managed to obtain material samples from Enceladus’ icy surface. This happened before it plunged to its doom in Saturn’s atmosphere a while ago.
According to Dr. Frank Postberg, the leader of the study, this discovery blew everyone away. Usually, these complex organic molecules are not enough to indicate that there is indeed life there. However, they are essential elements in order for it to exist. A while ago, nobody was sure whether or not there was complex organic chemistry happening on Enceladus. Now they are certain about its existence. Other experts have also said that Enceladus is now the only body, apart from Earth, which simultaneously satisfies all the basic requirements for life. We might now be closer than ever to finding alien life outside our own world.
Clear evidence of alien life found on Enceladus
It’s worth noting that this discovery is only the culmination of entire years of data which Cassini gathered. Previous surveys found clear evidence of a giant water ocean lying just underneath the icy crust of Enceladus. According to Dr. Hunter Waite, a co-author on the new study, hydrogen is a major source of energy that supports microbes. These microbes also live on our planet, further proving that the conditions are indeed very similar.
It’s interesting that this incredible discovery comes right after NASA announced that they have found the basic ingredients for life on Mars. All things considered, we may now be closer than ever to finding more about aliens than we ever were before.
Image source: wikimedia
