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Comments (53)
- limbicsystemNote that in one way finding life on other planets would be a disaster - implying that the 'great filter' is more likely to still be ahead of us...
- gaigalasThe most interesting thing about Enceladus having life is the possibility of the natural dispersal mechanism.Life starts deep in the Enceladus ocean, gets jettisoned by the plume, parks on Saturn's rings which becomes a huge distribution mechanism. If one extremophile reaches there, it means we could find not only a source of life but a mechanism for panspermia.It is believed that the giant planets all develop and lose their rings over time, each time a moon is eaten. If the plumes are caused by Saturn's gravity perturbing the planet, it makes this mechanism highly plausible in all sorts of systems that have giants (and we know there's a lot of them).
- veexx103If life really exists there, it implies that life is everywhere in the universe.That was absolutely terrifying.
- I_dream_of_GeniOK... Serious question here: we find "life" (algae?) on one of Saturn's moons or one of Jupiter's moons. So, we spend ~$50 Billion (arguably much more) and find "life". So? Why is this important to people? There isn't one chance in (place your own word here) that we can do anything about it or even send humans there. Seriously want to know what people really think...
- jibal> In fact, spacecrafts already in planning could be used to identify evidence of life there much easier than previously thought, should it exist.But there's no reason to think that it does.
- WorseIsBetter[flagged]
- sage981Bet their civilization's 'Hello World' is still stuck in an infinite loop. Fascinating possibilities though.