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Scientists find microbe that could survive on Saturn's moon Enceladus

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Scientists find microbe that could survive on Saturn's moon Enceladus

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Laboratory experiments show a methane-producing archaeon can grow under conditions mimicking the ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus. The findings, published September 25 in Science Advances, raise the possibility that life could exist beneath the moon's icy crust. Researchers caution the study does not prove life exists on Enceladus.

Key Facts

  • The study was published on September 25 in the journal Science Advances.
  • Researchers from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the University of Regensburg, and the University of Berlin took part in the study.
  • The microorganism used in the experiment is a single-celled archaeon that lives in deep water bodies on Earth.
  • The archaeon produced methane using hydrogen and carbon dioxide under Enceladus-like conditions.
  • Geobiologist William Orsi, one of the study authors, said the research does not prove life exists on Enceladus.

The Experiment

Researchers recreated in the laboratory the conditions that may exist at the bottom of Enceladus's ocean. A single-celled archaeon from Earth's deep water bodies was placed into this simulated environment. The microorganism continued to grow and produced methane using hydrogen generated by reactions between water and rock. The archaeon adapted to very low carbon dioxide levels and used even tiny amounts of available gas through its metabolism.

Implications for Life

The findings increase the likelihood that life could exist on Enceladus, where a liquid water ocean lies beneath an ice crust and a rocky core sits deeper still. The study suggests Enceladus's geochemical conditions may be more favorable for microorganisms than previously thought. Geobiologist William Orsi stated that the research shows the moon's key geochemical features could allow one of the oldest life forms to exist. Researchers emphasized that the experiment does not prove life exists on Enceladus.

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