Ever looked at the night sky and wondered, “Who else is out there?” Everyone has at some point in their life, and so have we! So let’s blast off: What other celestial bodies in this solar system may support life?
Enceladus, the icy moon of Saturn, is often considered to be a good candidate for life. Two of the main concerns for candidacy are ideal temperature conditions and organic molecules. But Enceladus could have both! Under its icy surface, convection of water and tidal forces are thought to keep this moon of Saturn warm enough. In addition, the geysers on the surface are known to erupt large organic molecules that we normally do not find in extraterrestrial locations.
Titan is also considered to be a good candidate for life, as it is basically an Earth with methane and ethane instead of water. Nitrogen in the atmosphere, as well as other organic molecules made from broken down methane, can combine to form hydrocarbons. At one point in time, life may have created the methane that is currently on Titan. However, as there is no liquid water there today, if it existed, this life may have become extinct. Many people today think that if there were life on Titan, its cell membranes would have to be solid, because of how cold it is on Titan.
Mars! How could we forget about Mars when talking about life on other celestial bodies? However, it is thought that life on Mars used to exist rather than still exists today. Scientists have found a rock thought to have come from Mars, containing materials known to be produced by bacteria on Earth. It also contained chains of globules resembling some bacterial formations today! Currently, Mars is dry, cold, and does not have an atmosphere that can block UV rays. These conditions make Mars currently unsuitable for life. But hope is not lost, as astronomers have noted dark stripes on Mars, which are thought to be salty meltwater beneath the surface.
Enceladus, Titan, and Mars are just three of the celestial bodies in our solar system that may contain life. There are many others such as Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede. If possible life on other celestial bodies is interesting for you, feel free to research more about these celestial bodies.
Post By: Roshni P. M. and Hannah W.
Photo credits: Greg Rakozy, Unsplash, https://unsplash.com/photos/oMpAz-DN-9I
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