Search for life signal on Titan
Scientists will comb data sent back from Titan by the Huygens probe for the chemical signature of life in a bid to identify the moon's source of methane. Methane is constantly destroyed by UV light so there must be a source within Titan to replenish the atmosphere. Life is a possible - though some think unlikely - source of this hydrocarbon along with geological processes. The surface is too cold for biology, but microbes could survive in an ocean within Titan.
2005-01-25
Moon extraterrestrial life Titan Saturn methane Huygens
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