Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Ice Volcano Likely On Titan

Scientists using Cassini data think they have solid evidence of at least one ice volcano (cryovolcano) on Saturn's huge, remarkable moon, Titan. Lava flows from terrestrial volcanoes, but ice volcanoes throw out water or water vapor, hydrocarbons, or other complex chemicals. Such geologic activity on Titan would also explain the amount of methane in Titan's atmosphere, as ice volcanism could replenish methane, which, over time, is broken down by radiation.

The existences of ice volcanoes-- if there's one, there's likely more-- also increases the odds of life existing on Titan by keeping the complex chemistry we see stirred up, and by connecting organic compounds on the surface and in the atmosphere to a possible underground sea of liquid water. That thinking-- always going back to life in liquid water-- may turn out to be too Earth-centric. Life on Titan, and other worlds, may be really alien, after all. Still, water is our starting place for now.

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