SCIENTISTS PROVES THE DISCOVERY OF LIFE DETECTED IN EXTRATERRESTRIAL ICE GRAINS

For a long time, scientists believed they could look for signs of extraterrestrial life by analysing the ice on planetary bodies. The discovery of ice on Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto presents a plethora of intriguing opportunities for scientists. According to a recent study, scientists would only need one ice grain instead of having to remove an ice core from a planetary body to study Antarctic ice cores.

The possibility of discovering life signs on Europa or Enceladus, the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, respectively, is the specific topic of the research paper. Beneath the surface of Europa lies a vast ocean that has long captivated researchers. NASA's Cassini spacecraft found molecules containing ammonia and carbon dioxide on Enceladus a few years ago. These two elements are essential for life.

These two findings make the moons ideal for additional study, and researchers intend to test tiny ice particles that are released into space by the subterranean ocean geysers on the moons. Scientists hope to learn more about these ice particles by sending small, unmanned spacecraft to Jupiter in the near future. Plans are already in place for this mission. The Europa Clipper is slated to enter Jupiter's orbit in April 2030 and will be outfitted with instruments capable of investigating both Jupiter's ice worlds and its surrounding moons.