Scientists have made an exciting discovery. They believe signs of life could survive on two icy moons in our solar system. These moons are Enceladus and Europa. Enceladus orbits Saturn, and Europa orbits Jupiter.
Both moons have icy surfaces. Underneath these icy crusts, there are vast oceans. These oceans might have the right conditions for life. Scientists have long thought that these moons could harbor life. Now, new research supports this idea.
The research was led by Alexander Pavlov from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The team conducted experiments to see if life signs could survive on these moons. They focused on amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of life. They are essential for making proteins.
The team found that amino acids could survive near the surface of these moons. On Europa, amino acids could be found about 8 inches (20 centimeters) below the surface. This is in areas where the surface has not been disturbed by meteorite impacts. On Enceladus, amino acids could survive even closer to the surface. They could be found less than a tenth of an inch (a few millimeters) below the surface.
This discovery is significant. It means that future missions to these moons might not need to dig deep to find signs of life. Robotic landers could collect samples from just below the surface. This would make it easier to search for life on these moons.
Enceladus and Europa are both bombarded by radiation. This radiation comes from their host planets and from space. It can destroy complex organic molecules. However, the icy surfaces of these moons can protect the molecules. The research shows that amino acids can survive this harsh radiation.
Enceladus is known for its dramatic plumes. These plumes are jets of water vapor and ice that erupt from the moon’s surface. They come from the subsurface ocean. These plumes could contain biosignature molecules. Robotic missions could collect these molecules from the plumes. This would make it even easier to search for life on Enceladus.
Europa also has a subsurface ocean. It is heated by the gravitational pull of Jupiter and its neighboring moons. This heating creates a dynamic environment. It could support life. The icy crust of Europa is constantly being reshaped. This could bring molecules from the ocean to the surface. Future missions could collect these molecules to search for signs of life.
The discovery of potential life signs on Enceladus and Europa is exciting. It opens up new possibilities for finding life beyond Earth. Scientists are eager to send missions to these moons. They hope to find more evidence of life in our solar system.
The research shows that signs of life could survive on Enceladus and Europa. Amino acids, the building blocks of life, could be found just below the surface. This makes it easier for future missions to search for life. The discovery brings us one step closer to finding life beyond Earth.
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