Science News Alert: NASA finds ingredients for life spewing out of Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus

The jets of ice and gas gushing from the south pole of Enceladus contain molecular hydrogen, a chemical characteristic of hydrothermal activity. On Earth, hydrogen provides fuel for communities of organisms that live around vents on the seafloor. Its presence on Enceladus suggests that this alien world, which harbors a saltwater ocean encased in a frozen crust, has the right conditions to give rise to microbial life.

Democracy Dies in Darkness     Science News Alert Thu., Apr. 13, 2017 2:01 p.m.     NASA finds ingredients for life spewing out of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus The jets of ice and gas gushing from the south pole of Enceladus contain molecular hydrogen, a chemical characteristic of hydrothermal activity. On Earth, hydrogen provides fuel for communities of organisms that live around vents on the seafloor. Its presence on Enceladus suggests that this alien world, which harbors a saltwater ocean encased in a frozen crust, has the right conditions to give rise to microbial life. Read more » Advertisement You are signed up for the following breaking news alerts: Health/Science/Environment. You received this email because you signed up for breaking news alerts. For additional free email alerts and newsletters, or to unsubscribe, click here. We respect your privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error, or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. ©2017 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071