Science Alert: NASA’s Cassini spacecraft found building blocks of life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus

A year after the Cassini spacecraft crashed into the surface of Saturn, it has offered up a new discovery. Analysis of its data suggests that oceans on the moon Enceladus contain complex organic compounds — the essential building blocks of living beings. Enceladus shoots out plumes of ice and saltwater, a sign it contains a subsurface ocean. A decade ago, the Cassini spacecraft sampled these jets of ice and saltwater. The new analysis found larger molecules than before, of the kind that are created by life on Earth, although the discovery is not direct evidence of life on Enceladus. The fact that an aging orbiter not designed for life detection was able to sense these molecules — which are among the largest and most complex organics found in the solar system — makes the icy moon an even more tantalizing target in the search for extraterrestrial life, experts say.

Democracy Dies in Darkness     Science Alert Jun 27, 1:02 PM     NASA's Cassini spacecraft found building blocks of life on Saturn's moon Enceladus A year after the Cassini spacecraft crashed into the surface of Saturn, it has offered up a new discovery. Analysis of its data suggests that oceans on the moon Enceladus contain complex organic compounds — the essential building blocks of living beings. Enceladus shoots out plumes of ice and saltwater, a sign it contains a subsurface ocean. A decade ago, the Cassini spacecraft sampled these jets of ice and saltwater. The new analysis found larger molecules than before, of the kind that are created by life on Earth, although the discovery is not direct evidence of life on Enceladus. The fact that an aging orbiter not designed for life detection was able to sense these molecules — which are among the largest and most complex organics found in the solar system — makes the icy moon an even more tantalizing target in the search for extraterrestrial life, experts say. Read more » Advertisement You received this email because you signed up for news alerts from The Washington Post. Manage my newsletters and alerts | Unsubscribe Privacy Policy | Help ©2018 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071