New Cassini Findings Show Possible Signs of Methane-Based Life on Titan

New Cassini Findings Show Possible Signs of Methane-Based Life on Titan

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Something is consuming hydrogen and organic molecules on Saturn's moon Titan, and the recipe matches astrobiologists' theories about possible methane-based life. Granted, there may be other chemical explanations -- it's just that no one knows what they are yet.

New data from the Cassini spacecraft show hydrogen is disappearing near Titan's surface. What's more, scientists have not been able to find acetylene, an organic molecule that should be pretty abundant in the moon's thick atmosphere.

All this fits very nicely with a theory from NASA astrobiologist Chris McKay, who proposed f

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Although this is not proof of life exesting on Titan, this is very good evidence supporting the theory that microbial life may exist outside of earth. These findings suggest that microbes may responsible for the abundance of methane gas on Titan. If the microbes are in fact breathing hydrogen and eating acetylene, methane gas is being produced as a byproduct.

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I guess that means that when they come here, we won't see them, we'll smell them...lines read: Invasion of the fart people!!

[edit on 4-6-2010 by wiseone11]