Scientists have just received new evidence that life could exist on Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. An international team of researchers has detected significant heat flow at the north pole of this icy world for the first time. This could mean that beneath the ice there is a stable and habitable ocean.
The research was conducted by experts from Oxford University (UK), Southwest Research Institute and Planetary Science Institute in Tucson (USA). His results were published in the journal Scientific progress.
Enceladus is not just a frozen ball of ice, but also an extremely dynamic world. Beneath its icy surface lies a global ocean of salt. Scientists believe it is the heat source. The presence of liquid water, temperature and the necessary chemical elements make this ocean one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for extraterrestrial life.
However, life can only form and exist under stable conditions. To keep the ocean from freezing, the flow of energy in and out must be balanced. This balance is maintained by tidal heating: Saturn's powerful gravity continuously stretches and compresses the satellite as it moves through its orbit, creating heat within it.
Lead author of the study Dr Georgina Miles said: “Enceladus is a key target in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Until now, direct heat measurements from Enceladus have only been taken at its south pole, where giant geysers and steam shoot into space. The Arctic is considered “dormant” and inactive.
To test this, scientists used data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft. By comparing real data with models, the team found that surface temperatures in the north pole were about 7 degrees warmer than expected. The only reasonable explanation for this is heat leakage from the ocean.
Heat loss amounts to about 35 gigawatts. This is a huge source of energy – equivalent to the amount produced by more than 66 million modern solar panels. When these data are added to heat loss at the south pole, the total comes to 54 gigawatts. This is compelling evidence that the Enceladus ocean could remain liquid for millions of years, creating a stable environment for potential life.
This discovery helped shed light on the thickness of the moon's ice sheet. According to new estimates, the Arctic ice is 20–23 km thick and on average across the planet is 25 to 28 km thick. This is important information for future missions that may explore the ocean using robotic probes or submersibles.
The main question that scientists now have to answer is whether the Enceladus ocean existed long enough for life to arise in it. Currently, his age is still a mystery.
