Simulation of Enceladus’ ocean shows strong potential for life

Artist’s concept of water vapor plumes erupting onto the surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. In the background we see another moon, Titan, lit as a crescent, with the distant sun beyond. Recently, scientists in Japan and Germany recreated the conditions of Enceladus’ ocean beneath its icy crust. They used data the Cassini spacecraft sampled from the plumes. And they found that organic molecules – both simple and complex – can form easily there, increasing the potential for life. Image via ESA/ Science Office.