One of Saturn's moons might have warm enough water for life, research shows - CNET

 

Solar System Exploration: News & Events: News Archive: Saturn Moon's Ocean May Harbor Hydrothermal Activity

 

The dust particles were rich in silicon, which provides a clue the researchers believe points to the hydrothermal activity.

 

Here's why:

 

On Earth, small specks of silica -- the oxidized form of the element silicon (PDF) -- are most commonly formed through hydrothermal activity, says the statement. So the researchers who examined Cassini's data believe the particles swirling around Saturn formed the same way -- by hydrothermal vents on the bottom of the ice-covered ocean on Enceladus, the planet's nearby moon.

 

Their thinking is that beneath the icy crust and ocean that covers Enceladus, there is hydrothermal activity creating water with temperatures of at least 90 degrees Celsius (194 degrees Fahrenheit). This activity dissolves the minerals from the moon's interior -- maybe even from deep in its core. As the minerals rise on the hot water jets, most of them condense out as the water cools, leaving the nano-size particles of silica floating around. Those particles are then embedded in ice beneath the moon's icy crust and when they're ejected into space by the at least 101 geysers on the moon, the ice erodes and the particles float over to orbit Saturn.

Ralph may have just done it, for those of you old enough to recall:

 

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"What's going to happen?"

"Something wonderful."