On Saturn’s moon found the source of life
An international team of astronomers found that Enceladus, there are all necessary for emergence of life conditions. According to the findings of researchers, on Saturn there is hydrothermal activity, which arises because of the tidal friction between water and the core of the moon.
This, in turn, provides energy for hypothetical organisms. Article scientists published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
On Enceladus there is a huge salty ocean, a hidden icy crust thickness of 1-25 kilometers. It does not penetrate the sun’s rays provide the Earth photosynthesis and the formation of a larger portion of the biomass. However, energy in the form of minerals can supply hydrothermal sources on the seafloor. For the existence of the latter requires the presence of a hot core.
Scientists believed that the source of heat in the interior of Enceladus may be radioactive decay. However, this mechanism could only work for several million years, which would be insufficient for the emergence of life.
The researchers created a computer model that showed that the tidal forces arising from the motion of a satellite in an elliptical orbit around Saturn, can heat the water inside the core of the moon. This happens due to friction that occurs when circulation of fluid in porous rocks. The water temperature rises and when it reaches 90 degrees Celsius it is pushed into the ocean near the poles of Enceladus, and then ejected into space as ice geysers.
Such a mechanism could operate for billions of years, which may be sufficient for the formation of living organisms.