28.3.08

A Warm Enceladus Brew

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Credit: NASA/JPL/GSFC/SwRI/SSI


NASA's Cassini spacecraft tasted and sampled a surprising organic brew erupting in geyser-like fashion from Saturn's moon Enceladus during a close flyby on March 12. Scientists are amazed that this tiny moon is so active, "hot" and brimming with water vapor and organic chemicals.

[...]

"Enceladus has got warmth, water and organic chemicals, some of the essential building blocks needed for life," said Dennis Matson, Cassini project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "We have quite a recipe for life on our hands, but we have yet to find the final ingredient, liquid water[.]"

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The recipe for life, sure is tricky. But once the water vapor cools down a bit and goes all liquid-y, then will the soup be ready?
*_*