07 June 2010

Possible methane-based life forms on Titan?

Artist concept showing a lake on Saturn's moon Titan 

 
Two new papers based on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft scrutinize the complex chemical activity on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan. While non-biological chemistry offers one possible explanation, some scientists believe these chemical signatures bolster the argument for a primitive, exotic form of life or precursor to life on Titan's surface. According to one theory put forth by astrobiologists, the signatures fulfill two important conditions necessary for a hypothesized "methane-based life."
 
(via NASA)
 
-o-o-o-
 
The implications of this are of course astronomical. I wonder how long it'll take before further investigation can provide more insight into what's going on out there. And if there is life within our very own solar system, what does that say about our expectations for the probability of life elsewhere?

Posted via email from technosocialite

No comments: