Evidence of life on Titan.

[gturner]

Scientists have found evidence that there may be some form of life on Saturn's biggest moon Titan.

They have discovered clues that might show that microscopic aliens are breathing in Titan's atmosphere and feeding on fuel at the surface.

<snip>


The startling discoveries, made using an orbiting spacecraft, are revealed by two separate teams reporting in two science publications, Icarus and the Journal of Geophysical Research.

The paper in Icarus shows that hydrogen gas flowing down through Titan's atmosphere mysteriously disappears at the surface, suggesting it could be being breathed by alien bugs.

The second paper reports that there is a lack of the chemical acetylene on the surface, leading scientists to believe that it may be being consumed once it reaches Titan.

Scientists had expected sunlight interacting with chemicals in the atmosphere to produce acetylene that falls down to coat Titan. But Cassini detected no acetylene on the surface.

Experts caution that there could be other explanations for the results observed.

But taken together, they fulfill two important conditions necessary for methane-based life to exist.

Nasa astrobiologist Chris McKay, of California, who drew up the list of conditions, said: 'We suggested hydrogen consumption because it’s the obvious gas for life to consume on Titan, similar to the way we consume oxygen on Earth.

'If these signs do turn out to be a sign of life, it would be doubly exciting because it would represent a second form of life independent from water-based life on Earth.'

Daily Mail link

If there is life on Titan then these morons need to step aside and put James Cameron in charge of the research program, since he's the expert on alien life in non-breathable atmospheres.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

If there is life on Titan then these morons need to step aside and put James Cameron in charge of the research program, since he's the expert on alien life in non-breathable atmospheres.

You might even consider it a project... [puts on sunglasses] ... of Titanic proportions.

 

[RoJoHen]

If there is life on Titan then these morons need to step aside and put James Cameron in charge of the research program, since he's the expert on alien life in non-breathable atmospheres.

You might even consider it a project... [puts on sunglasses] ... of Titanic proportions.

Ugh.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

If there is life on Titan then these morons need to step aside and put James Cameron in charge of the research program, since he's the expert on alien life in non-breathable atmospheres.

You might even consider it a project... [puts on sunglasses] ... of Titanic proportions.

Ugh.

He can even crown himself as King of (that) World.

 

[Rowan Sjet]

You might even consider it a project... [puts on sunglasses] ... of Titanic proportions.

Ugh.

He can even crown himself as King of (that) World.

Make it stop!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Ugh.

He can even crown himself as King of (that) World.

Make it stop!

My Puns Will Go On (and on....)

 

[Rek]

Maybe I should get a I heart ZR avatar because I laugh at all his puns. CSI: Miami was a great show.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Maybe I should get a I heart ZR avatar because I laugh at all his puns.

Steady on now... let's not get too carried away.

CSI: Miami was a great show.

I said steady on.

 

[ALF]

He can even crown himself as King of (that) World.

Make it stop!

My Puns Will Go On (and on....)

It's been 84 years, and I can still smell the fresh paint. The china had never been used. The sheets had never been slept in. Titanic was called the Ship of Dreams, and it was. It really was.



All out of puns. That's all I have.

What we were talking about... a moon, right?

 

[Rek]

CSI: Miami was a great show.

I said steady on.

Hey, I did enjoy the show.

What we were talking about... a moon, right?

Something to do with aliens and a planet, I think.

 

[gturner]

Ahem. The original post was about the possibility of blue aliens on Titan who metabolize hydrogen and/or acetylene.

 

[ALF]

Sounds like unobtainium to me.

 

[Capn Flukie]

Blue aliens? I hope they match the environment, wouldn't want clashing titans would we?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Blue aliens? I hope they match the environment, wouldn't want clashing titans would we?

You're Kraken me up already.

 

[RJDiogenes]

This would be very exciting if it were mentioned on any science news websites.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

This would be very exciting if it were mentioned on any science news websites.

But will it cause a fall in house prices?

 

[greenguy]

If there is life on Titan then these morons need to step aside and put James Cameron in charge of the research program, since he's the expert on alien life in non-breathable atmospheres.

You might even consider it a project... [puts on sunglasses] ... of Titanic proportions.

RMAO, yes! You beat me to it!

 

[Amaris]

Make it stop!

My Puns Will Go On (and on....)

It's been 84 years, and I can still smell the fresh paint. The china had never been used. The sheets had never been slept in. Titanic was called the Ship of Dreams, and it was. It really was.



All out of puns. That's all I have.

What we were talking about... a moon, right?

I'm pretty sure it's no moon. It's a space station.

Anyway, the news is actually being carried on several science websites.
I found an article here on the New Scientist Website:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19005-hints-of-life-found-on-saturn-moon.html

 

[Mary Ann]

This would be very exciting if it were mentioned on any science news websites.

Oh come now, you nasty little cynic, you, it's the Daily Mail, so it MUST be accurate. I'm surprised they left out the bit about illegal immigrants taking all the NASA jobs and that Princess Diana hasn't been spotted on Titan yet.

 

[Amaris]

There's also an article here from Ars Technica:
http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/06/why-is-the-hydrogen-exiting-titans-atmosphere.ars