Scientists have found clues that Saturn's moon Titan may have an icy shell made of methane-rich ice, potentially making it easier to find signs of life there.
Scientists Discover Methane-Rich Ice Shell on Titan, Warming Saturn's Largest Moon
This discovery, led by researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, points to a thick layer of special ice, called methane clathrate, under Titan's surface. This type of ice traps methane gas and could be warming Titan's interior, hinting at a more dynamic environment than previously thought.
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is unique in the solar system because it has an atmosphere and lakes, rivers, and seas filled with liquid methane and ethane. While the temperatures are too cold for water to stay liquid on the surface, Titan has water ice mixed with methane on its crust.
The researchers studied Titan's shallow impact craters, which are surprisingly shallow compared to those on similar moons. According to Live Science, they believe that this methane-rich ice layer, which could be up to six miles thick, might be causing the craters to flatten or disappear faster than on other moons.
The team, led by scientist Lauren Schurmeier, used computer models to simulate how Titan's surface changes after being hit by asteroids.
They found that an icy crust made of methane clathrate, between five and ten kilometers thick, could explain why Titan's craters are so shallow. This layer might be insulating the moon's interior, causing it to be warmer and more flexible than scientists previously thought.
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NASA's 2028 Dragonfly Mission Aims to Uncover Potential Biomarkers Beneath Titan's Icy Surface
Titan's interior warmth is important because it could support the movement of materials, like possible biomarkers, from its subsurface ocean up to the surface.
On Earth, certain signs of life, or biomarkers, can be found in environments similar to what scientists believe exists beneath Titan's crust. This has made Titan a target for future space missions aiming to search for life.
The Dragonfly mission, planned by NASA to launch in 2028, will give scientists the chance to explore Titan's surface up close when it arrives around 2034, The Debrief said. Equipped with a drone-like spacecraft, the mission aims to study Titan's icy surface, atmosphere, and potential habitability.
The study's findings also provide a valuable comparison to methane processes on Earth. For example, in Arctic permafrost and undersea areas, methane clathrates trap methane gas.
As Earth's climate warms, these methane pockets are slowly releasing the gas, which contributes to greenhouse effects. Titan's methane cycle could offer insights into how similar processes on Earth might affect our climate in the future.
While the possibility of life on Titan remains unconfirmed, the new findings suggest that its ice shell is not as frozen and inactive as once thought. With a warm and flexible layer of methane clathrate ice, Titan may be actively cycling materials that could hold clues to its habitability.
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