Phosphorus discovered in Enceladus’ oceans

A team of researchers led by planetary scientist Frank Bostberg, from the Free University of Berlin, Germany, Identified Phosphorus-containing compounds in the vapor ejected by Saturn’s oceanic moon Enceladus, the body in the Solar System with the largest amount of liquid water by mass.

The discovery is a milestone because it raises the possibility A frozen dwarf satellite may contain life. Enceladus, as the team says, “has all the ingredients necessary for life.”

When JWST observed a column of Enceladus geysers last year, it revealed their immense size and the small amount of their composition, however, it was data collected by the Cassini spacecraft that gave such a discovery. His Cosmic Dust Analyzer This has become one of the most important tasks we have assigned to phosphorus, not only to detect it, but also to reveal its abundance.

Apparently, the spacecraft was able to take samples of Saturn’s E ring, most of which formed from ice ejected from Enceladus’ oceans by its geysers, and run them through a mass spectrometer. Previous analysis revealed sodium, potassium, chlorine and carbonate ions. Postberg’s team then re-examined the mass and found peaks that matched the mass of sodium phosphates. According to the authors:

Phosphates aren’t the only ones Cassini collected. Phosphorus concentrations [son] The Moon’s plume-forming oceans contain at least 100 times more water than Earth’s oceans. Concentrations vary greatly from grain to grain, but we do not know whether they reflect location within the ocean or some segregation process during escape.

What does this abundance of phosphorus mean?

Basically, it opens the door wide speculation Experts say phosphates are rarely found in large-time calcium-rich waters because calcium phosphates are less soluble, and if Enceladus’ oceans lack calcium ions, they may be trapped in organic complexes, a sign of more robust life.

Let’s assume that, Except for a few oddities in the form of bacteria, all life on Earth needs phosphorus. In fact, phosphate ions in fertilizers are so important to agriculture that the discovery of new sources has hindered many. famines.

Put another way, this evidence suggests that life on Enceladus could indeed thrive.