Scientists have discovered a young and mysterious ocean hidden beneath the ice shell of Enceladus. By analyzing the data sent back by the Cassini probe in the United States, scientists were pleasantly surprised to find tiny rotational oscillations inside Enceladus, suggesting that there may be an anomalous solid rock core or subsurface ocean.
The researchers also systematically simulated the motion of Enceladus, and through careful calculations, they found that this subterranean ocean was formed less than 25 million years ago and is still changing!
For a long time, almost everyone thought that Enceladus was a desolate and lifeless moon, so it's hard to imagine that it actually has an ocean! However, the data transmitted by Cassini revealed the tiny and mysterious oscillations of rotation hidden inside Enceladus, showing us the secrets inside the satellite.
By simulating the motion of the Enceladus, the research team found that if there was an anomalous solid rock core inside the Enceladus, it would be elongated and flattened into a pancake, which was inconsistent with actual observations. Therefore, only the subsurface ocean can explain the rotational motion and orbital changes of Enceladus. It has been calculated that Enceladus' subterranean ocean, located about 20-30 km below the ice crust, occupies more than half of the total volume, equivalent to 12%-1.4%。
If scientists' calculations are correct, it means that this mysterious subterranean ocean was formed between 2 million and 25 million years ago and is still evolving today. Because it is very young and the time span is too short, it has not yet left any traces on the surface of Enceladus. The discovery came as a surprise because Enceladus looked ancient and inactive, with craters on its surface and no signs of ocean presence.
The presence of Enceladus's subterranean ocean means that there is a heat source inside. The research team pointed out that as the distance between Enceladus and Saturn changes, so do the gravitational and tidal forces from Saturn, causing periodic deformations in the interior of Enceladus and converting some of the energy into heat. This phenomenon provides a continuously evolving heat source for the subterranean ocean inside Enceladus.
However, scientists have also pointed out that despite the possible presence of organic compounds in Enceladus's subterranean ocean, it is likely that such a young ocean will not be able to support life. Scientists still don't have a definitive answer to the question of how long it takes for life to emerge from a suitable environment. However, Enceladus offers a unique opportunity for us to study the first phase of the origin of life.
The discovery makes Enceladus the fifth moon in the solar system to have evidence of an underground ocean, having previously discovered Enceladus.
2. Encete. 6. Moons such as Europa and Europa have subterranean oceans. In addition, scientists speculate that other moons, including Europa, may also have subsurface oceans.
Through the study of Enceladus, scientists have revealed the mysterious subterranean ocean hidden beneath its ice shell, providing new clues for us to explore the universe. This subterranean ocean was formed less than 25 million years ago and is still evolving, giving us a deeper understanding of the origin and evolution of life. However, despite all the fact that the young ocean may not be able to support life, Enceladus offers a unique opportunity for us to study the first stage of life development. Future research will further unravel the mysteries of Enceladus and help us better understand the process of the origin and evolution of life in the universe.