Scientists have discovered complex organic molecules erupting from icy geysers several miles high associated with hydrothermal vents on Saturn's moon Enceladus (Nature volume 558, pages564–568, June 2018) into space, boosting the hypothesis that this ocean-moon may host conditions suitable for life. The data was collected by the Cassini spacecraft.
The organic nature of the Cassini spectras suggest ethoxy and carbonyl functional groups, aromatic structures as, benzene rings and phenyls, other aromatics and nitrogen bearing ions were observed.
The moon, Enceladus, is one of several dozen moons that orbit Saturn. NASA considers Enceladus one of our solar system's most promising candidates in the search for extraterrestrial life.
