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New Organic Molecules Found on Saturn's Moon Enceladus

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1 day ago

Above: **Watermarked Getty Image. Kindly Replace** An illustration of vapour plumes erupting from the surface of Enceladus, Saturn's sixth-largest moon, created on July 26, 2018. Image copyright: Illustration by Tobias Roetsch/Future Publishing/Getty Images

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The Spin

The discovery of complex organic molecules in Enceladus's plumes represents a breakthrough that dramatically increases the moon's potential for harboring life. These fresh samples, just minutes old from the subsurface ocean, prove complex chemistry is actively occurring beneath the ice. All signals are green for life on Enceladus.

Independent Guardian

Finding organic molecules doesn't prove life exists on Enceladus, and methane emissions can result from geological processes rather than biological ones. Even discovering no life would be significant since it raises questions about why organisms aren't present despite seemingly favorable conditions. The evidence remains inconclusive.

The Telegraph Daily Mail

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 50% chance that the first evidence of extraterrestrial life will be discovered by January 2053, according to the Metaculus prediction community.