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- Title
Enceladus: Astrobiology Revisited.
- Authors
Davila, A. F.; Eigenbrode, J. L.
- Abstract
Astrobiology research seeks to understand how life begins and evolves, and to determine whether life exist elsewhere in the universe. The discovery of diverse ocean worlds has significantly expanded the number of planetary bodies in the Solar System that could potentially contain life. Of the recognized ocean worlds, Saturn's moon Enceladus stands out because it appears to meet all requirements to sustain life. For that reason, robotic mission concepts are being developed to determine whether Enceladus' ocean is inhabited. The theory of organic chemical evolution (OCE) represents an ideal framework to guide this exploration strategy, articulating investigations and associated measurements of organic matter in the subsurface ocean. Within this reference frame, the immediate priority with the lowest science risk would be to understand molecular and structural properties of bulk organic matter in the ocean, and search for metabolic precursors and biochemical building blocks, both free and bound. This could be supplemented with "high‐risk, high‐reward" searches for functional polymers, catalytic activity, and cell‐like objects with traits indicative of evolutionary adaptations. The theory of OCE provides a robust scientific foundation for the astrobiological exploration of ocean worlds, fostering a productive path to discovery with lower mission risk that could be implemented with existing technology. Strong synergies between astrobiology and Earth‐bound research could ensue from this exploration strategy particularly in the context of terrestrial analog studies and laboratory simulations. Plain Language Summary: There is a diversity of "ocean worlds" in our Solar System, which are of great scientific interest. Enceladus, a small moon of Saturn, has a global subsurface ocean that could sustain life and contains complex organic matter. To further understand the biological potential of Enceladus, and other ocean worlds, we need to consider how abiotic and prebiotic chemistry in Enceladus's ocean might play a role in the origin of life. The theory of organic chemical evolution provides the ideal framework to address this question. The top priority would be to study the organic inventory in the ocean, and to search for the basic building blocks of life, as well as simple compounds involved in metabolic processes. Next, we should search for complex polymers and cell‐like structures with traits suggesting Darwinian evolution. This exploration strategy is a solid foundation for discovery and can be done with current technology, which lowers the risk and complexity of spaceflight missions. Key Points: Enceladus is one of the most compelling destinations in the solar system for exobiology explorationThe theory of organic chemical evolution provides a framework for the continued and systematic exploration of Enceladus and other ocean worldsWith this exploration framework biotic, abiotic, and prebiotic scenarios are all possible outcomes with profound implications
- Subjects
ASTROBIOLOGY; UNDERWATER exploration; ORIGIN of life; POLYMER structure; CATALYTIC activity; SPACE exploration; SOLAR system; ASTROPHYSICAL radiation
- Publication
Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences, 2024, Vol 129, Issue 5, p1
- ISSN
2169-8953
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2023JG007677