Astronomy
Enceladus shown to have all six of the essential elements for life
Reanalysis of icy rock grains from a ring of Saturn – fed by ice plumes from its moon Enceladus – has revealed the presence of phosphorus, the only key essential element for life that hadn’t already been spotted
![](https://cdn.thefoxposts.com/images/2023/01/14/713a67df14cac693c77e811f7277e450.webp)
Finding phosphorus means Saturn’s moon Enceladus has now been shown to have all six of the essential elements for life
Cassini Imaging Team/SSI/JPL/ESA/NASA
Saturn’s moon Enceladus is producing phosphorus, meaning that this icy moon holds all the essential building blocks for life as we know it.
![](https://thefoxposts.com/image/getimage/?url=https://www.newscientist.nl/app/uploads/saturnusmaan-enceladus-e1664295002676.png)
Every life form on Earth contains six key elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulphur. The known existence of these, bar phosphorus, on Enceladus, combined with a liquid ocean and a warm core, had already made the moon one of the most likely places for life …
No commitment, cancel anytime*
Offer ends 14th March 2023. *Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.
Existing subscribers, please log in with your email address to link your account access.
Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)
-
Astronomy1y ago
Scientists Just Discoʋered Planets Eʋen Better for Life than Earth!
-
Astronomy1y ago
Astronoмers Think They Haʋe a Warning Sign for When Mᴀssiʋe Stars are AƄout to Explode as Supernoʋae
-
Astronomy1y ago
It’s official: Saturn is Losing its rings — and they’re disappearing мuch faster than scientists had anticipated
-
Astronomy1y ago
A Giant Sunspot Doubled in Size in 24 Hours, And It’s Pointing Right at Earth
-
Astronomy1y ago
‘Giant arc’ stretching 3.3 Ƅillion light-years across the cosmos shouldn’t exist
-
Astronomy1y ago
A Cosmic Devourer: NASA Discovers Abnormal Object Behind the Milky Way (Video)
-
Astronomy1y ago
Something Massive In Our Solar System Has Tilted The Sun By 6 Degrees
-
Astronomy1y ago
All in One Image: A Supermassive Black Hole and Its Jet