The space agency said it has found “new kinds of organic compounds” in the hydrothermal plumes bursting out of Enceladus’ core. NASA said that the organic compounds found on Enceladus, which is one of Saturn’s 62 moons, are amino acids, which are regarded as one of the main ingredients for life. The scientists discovered the organic compounds by analysing data from Cassini, NASA’s historic probe which orbited the ringed-planet for 12 years before the mission ended in 2017.
Experts at the space agency said that the elements ejected from the hydrothermal vents were determined to be nitrogen- and oxygen-bearing compounds.
NASA said in a statement: “On Earth, similar compounds are part of chemical reactions that produce amino acids, the building blocks of life.
“Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor provide the energy that fuels the reactions. Scientists believe Enceladus’ hydrothermal vents may operate in the same way, supplying energy that leads to the production of amino acids.”
It is believed the icy shell surrounding Enceladus has an average thickness of 25 kilometres, but it is as thin as just one kilometre on the south pole of the moon, where the icy plumes were found.
However, scientists have previously stated that the moon’s core and rock interaction could keep the subsurface water warm enough to remain in liquid form.
Nozair Khawaja, who led the research team of the Free University of Berlin, said of the most recent research: “If the conditions are right, these molecules coming from the deep ocean of Enceladus could be on the same reaction pathway as we see here on Earth.
“We don’t yet know if amino acids are needed for life beyond Earth, but finding the molecules that form amino acids is an important piece of the puzzle.”
Co-author Jon Hillier added: “Here we are finding smaller and soluble organic building blocks — potential precursors for amino acids and other ingredients required for life on Earth.”
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The chemicals were found in the moon’s atmosphere which has redefined scientists understanding of Titan.
Ravi Desai, study lead author and PhD student at University College London (UCL), said at the time: “We have made the first unambiguous identification of carbon chain anions in a planet-like atmosphere, which we believe are a vital stepping-stone in the production line of growing bigger, and more complex organic molecules, such as the moon’s large haze particles.
“This is a known process in the interstellar medium – the large molecular clouds from which stars themselves form – but now we’ve seen it in a completely different environment, meaning it could represent a universal process for producing complex organic molecules.”