• Life may exist on Saturn's moon
    82 replies, posted
[URL]http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/scientists-discover-massive-methane-lakes-saturn-moon-suspect-172342168.html[/URL] [QUOTE]Scientists have often held [URL="http://www.tecca.com/news/2011/12/22/cassini-saturn-moon-photos/"]Saturn's moon[/URL] of Titan in high regard because of its particularly unique makeup. As its name suggests, Titan is the largest of Saturn's moons, and it's the only one to show any signs of having a dense enough atmosphere to support life. Now, [URL="http://www.tecca.com/news/2011/09/08/nasa-cassini-saturn-photograph/"]NASA's Cassini probe[/URL] has discovered enormous lakes near the satellite's equator, made not of water, but of liquid methane. Prior to the discovery, scientists believed standing bodies of liquid would only be possible near Titan's two poles. Finding water near the equator of the planet means that there may be an active source of flowing liquid on the planet, which could help life to form. The lakes themselves are actually just few feet deep in many places, making for miles of methane-covered swampland. Cassini is still studying the area and will make a number of additional flybys in order to gather more data, so keep your fingers crossed that NASA may still discover some methane-breathing fish monsters... or something. [/QUOTE] Very hypothetical, but exciting.
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Send a rover. Now.
Not really that surprising, it has many of the things needed for life to come about.
Whoa fuck me I'm stupid I was thinking of Europa
-snip i'm dumb-
No its not.
[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;36334404]The lack of sunlight might be a problem.[/QUOTE] There are quite a few species on earth that live in complete darkness.
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Not surprising, just like all the other planets and moons that may contain life or are habitable for life. There's thousands of them.
i mean like aliens could be whatever
Has anyone ever read Imperial Earth? It makes Titan and everything about it seem super impressive and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Earth]unique.[/url]
$200 says all they'll find is bacteria just like very other time.
This isn't news Edit: wait yes it is
Interesting..
[QUOTE=MIPS;36334531]$200 says all they'll find is bacteria just like very other time.[/QUOTE] You do realize that by life, we don't mean sentient, advanced civilizations, correct?
it's about time they are thinking outside the box. Not everything has to live off water and oxygen.
[QUOTE=Killoch0;36334443]It is when you conside that for life to form there needs to be SOME form of external energy. Titan is a dead rock by all accounts, so theres no geothermal heat or electromagnetic storms to get the process of life forming to being.[/QUOTE] I thought there was tons of geothermal vents all over it?
If it is a dead moon, we can always use the lakes of methane for fuel.
[QUOTE=zombini;36334640]If it is a dead moon, we can always use the lakes of methane for fuel.[/QUOTE] Pollute the atmosphere some more
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;36334687]Pollute the atmosphere some more[/QUOTE] Methane is a very strong greenhouse gas, if it wasn't a liquid most of the time and had a lot more titan could be a lot warmer Also we've landed on titan with the casinni-huygens mission Sent back data from a beachhead as well as pics
I wouldn't be surprised. Life has survived trips from earth, to space and back in the extreme conditions of space itself. A liquid lake and atmosphere? No problem
[QUOTE=Killoch0;36334443]It is when you conside that for life to form there needs to be SOME form of external energy. Titan is a dead rock by all accounts, so theres no geothermal heat or electromagnetic storms to get the process of life forming to being.[/QUOTE] That isn't really true, titan is effected by Saturn's electromagnetic field and its magnetic field. I'm not sure if Huygens had a seismometer or not but it must have a liquid core as it is able to hold its atmosphere through magnetically
[QUOTE=MIPS;36334531]$200 says all they'll find is bacteria just like very other time.[/QUOTE] uh... we've never found life anywhere in the solar system buddy, it's kind of a big deal to find bacteria
[QUOTE=TheTalon;36334753]I wouldn't be surprised. Life has survived trips from earth, to space and back in the extreme conditions of space itself. A liquid lake and atmosphere? No problem[/QUOTE] We know a lot of life is resiliant but we are unsure on the conditions nessesary for it to start
[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;36334404]The lack of sunlight might be a problem.[/QUOTE] [img]http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/002/cache/angler-fish_222_600x450.jpg[/img] "Ha! This fool thinks that I need sunlight!"
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;36334632]I thought there was tons of geothermal vents all over it?[/QUOTE]It possibly has live cryovolcanos, whether this volcanism is caused by radioactive decay in Titan's core (which is how it happens on Earth), or if it's due to tidal flexing from Saturn's gravity is currently being researched.
[QUOTE=MIPS;36334531]$200 says all they'll find is bacteria just like very other time.[/QUOTE] since when have we found confirmed bacteria on any other planet
[QUOTE=HolyCrusade;36334761]uh... we've never found life anywhere in the solar system buddy, it's kind of a big deal to find bacteria[/QUOTE] I could have sworn we found fossilized bacteria on Mars.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;36334632]I thought there was tons of geothermal vents all over it?[/QUOTE] Correct me if I am wrong, since this was a long time ago, but... I remember hearing that Titan is actually incredibly volcanic, but the volcanoes are "ice volcanoes," and the material they erupt is nothing but frozen methane and such. No idea on the legitimacy of that, since it's been years since I remember hearing this, but as far as I know, this is the case.
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