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Monday June 29, 2009
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 NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spotted what appears to be huge geysers shooting out of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggesting a salty sea below the surface that could harbor extra-terrestrial life, according to AFP.
The report said that European researchers have detected salt particles in volcanic jets that shoot several hundred miles into space. The jets are made of vapor and ice, and are "the strongest evidence to date of a liquid ocean under the moon's icy crust."
There are three key ingredients for the potential of life to exist. Scientists already knew that the moon has an energy source produced by "tidal warming," and also knew of a mix of organic material ejected from plumes, or fractures, on the moon's surface. Meanwhile, the newly-discovered geysers could indicate the presence of liquid water, which is the third vital component.
The next step, according to the report, would be to learn more about a potential hidden sea beneath the surface of Enceladus. Any volunteers want to go check it out for us? (Via Slashdot) (Image credit: NASA/JPL)
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June 29, 2009 8:56 PM
Enceladus has long been an object of suspicion since we're pretty sure there's liquid under all that ice - the moon seems geologically active, and this evidence of geysers erupting from the surface is indication of temperature variants in the liquid ocean. Very cool!