underground ocean

‘Tiger stripes’ on Saturn’s moon Enceladus could reveal whether the oceans are habitable

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New research has found that the side-to-side motion along distinctive ‘tiger stripes’ on Saturn’s moon Enceladus is linked to jets of ice crystals erupting from its icy shell. The findings could help determine the characteristics of this icy moon of Saturn’s subsurface ocean, and thus whether Enceladus is favorable for life. Enceladus’ tiger stripes consist … Read more

Saturn’s ocean moon Enceladus could support life – my research team is working on a way to detect alien cells there

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Saturn has 146 confirmed moons – more than any other planet in the solar system – but one called Enceladus stands out. It seems to have the ingredients for life. From 2004 to 2017, Cassini – a joint mission of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency – examined Saturn, its rings … Read more

Jupiter’s moon Europa generates enough oxygen to keep a million people alive for a day, NASA says

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This illustration of Europa shows how its icy surface can shine even on the night side, as Jupiter continually bombards it with radiation.NASA/JPL-Caltech NASA’s Juno mission discovered that Jupiter’s icy moon Europa produces 1,000 tons of oxygen every 24 hours. It’s enough to keep a million people breathing for a day, but it’s much less … Read more

Saturn’s ‘Death Star’ moon Mimas may have an ocean that scientists never believed could exist

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Astronomers have discovered that a small moon of Saturn, called Mimas, may harbor a hidden liquid ocean beneath its thick icy shell and thus have the conditions for habitability. This shocking finding radically changes the definition of what an ocean moon can be, and could ultimately redefine our search for extraterrestrial life on moons in … Read more

One of Saturn’s smallest moons has a secret ocean

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Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific developments and more. Astronomers have found additional evidence that one of Saturn’s smallest moons, Mimas, hides a global ocean beneath its icy surface. Building a stronger case for the presence of water – essential to life as we … Read more

One of Saturn’s smallest moons has a secret ocean

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Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific developments and more. Astronomers have found additional evidence that one of Saturn’s smallest moons, Mimas, hides a global ocean beneath its icy surface. Building a stronger case for the presence of water – essential to life as we … Read more