Recently, scientists have found that the ocean under the ice surface of Saturn’s satellite Enceladus is something like a liquid with a high concentration of hydrogen, Windex detergent, or just soapy water. This happened because of the long contact of water with stones, where the potential flora was created. Astronomers call this process evidence of hydrothermal ventilation.
"This is actually just a reflection of the inner world of the planet," said lead scientist Jonathan Lunain of Cornell University at the conference of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.
The analysis done by NASA’s cosmic NASA Cassini on October 28th shows that the subterranean ocean of the moon, which is the source of plumes (toxic substances), has great chemical contamination due to long exposure to rocks.
"All astronomers are simply amazed at such a high concentration of hydrogen in solution," said geochemist Christopher Glein from the University of Toronto and the Southwestern Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado.
“How could this happen? Hmmm. We believe that the reason is initially hidden on Enceladus. This process can still occur there, or rather the geochemical reactions between magnesium and iron in rocks rich in these substances in the core of a natural satellite. It is this long process led to a high toxic hydrogen content, "said Glein. The process, known as serpentinization, was first discovered on Earth, in the Lost City, in the area of alkaline hydrothermal vents in the center of the Atlantic Ocean.
Just as you could understand, the geochemical consequence of serpentinization is the massive production of hydrogen.
So far, attempts to independently detect signs of hydrogen in the cracks of the Enceladus rock have yielded mixed results.
"If the presence of hydrogen is confirmed, the discovery can have significant consequences for a promising life there. Hydrogen ... is a great potential. It is used to control the synthesis of organic molecules," the scientist added.
In addition, if life ever originated on Enceladus, it will definitely take hydrogen as a basis.
Cassini, who has been in Saturn’s orbit for more than 11 years, will make his final flight over Enceladus on Saturday.
