Simulating putative Enceladus-like conditions: The possibility of biological methane production on Saturn’s icy moon

Taubner, Ruth-Sophie; Pappenreiter, Patricia; Zwicker, Jennifer; Smrzka, Daniel; Pruckner, Christian; Kolar, Philipp; Bernacchi, Sébastien; Seifert, Arne H.; Krajete, Alexander; Bach, Wolfgang; Peckmann, Jörn; Paulik, Christian; Firneis, M. G.; Schleper, Christa; Rittmann, Simon K.-M. R.

doi:10.1017/s1743921319001789

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Hydrothermal vents were possibly widespread in the oceans at the beginning of life on Earth. Deep ocean and submarine polar regions include a combination of the most extreme conditions for the development of life (high pressures, lack of light, and low temperatures), [64,[143][144][145][146][147][148][149], and they also host hydrothermal vents.…”

Section: The Search For Life On Icy Moons and Their Exo-oceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Science Can Contribute to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life

Aguzzi,

Cuadros,

Dartnell

et al. 2024

Life

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Life on our planet likely evolved in the ocean, and thus exo-oceans are key habitats to search for extraterrestrial life. We conducted a data-driven bibliographic survey on the astrobiology literature to identify emerging research trends with marine science for future synergies in the exploration for extraterrestrial life in exo-oceans. Based on search queries, we identified 2592 published items since 1963. The current literature falls into three major groups of terms focusing on (1) the search for life on Mars, (2) astrobiology within our Solar System with reference to icy moons and their exo-oceans, and (3) astronomical and biological parameters for planetary habitability. We also identified that the most prominent research keywords form three key-groups focusing on (1) using terrestrial environments as proxies for Martian environments, centred on extremophiles and biosignatures, (2) habitable zones outside of “Goldilocks” orbital ranges, centred on ice planets, and (3) the atmosphere, magnetic field, and geology in relation to planets’ habitable conditions, centred on water-based oceans.

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Section: The Search For Life On Icy Moons and Their Exo-oceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Science Can Contribute to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life

Aguzzi,

Cuadros,

Dartnell

et al. 2024

Life

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The detection of methanogenesis pathways in one of the best terrestrial analogs of Enceladus is promising evidence for the possibility of methanogenesis as a metabolic pathway in Enceladus’s ocean. The evidence is not limited to metagenomic analyses only; methanogenic archaea (most notably, M. okinawensis ) have been successfully cultured under putative Enceladus conditions [ 149 , 150 ].…”

Section: Proposed Metabolismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review on Hypothesized Metabolic Pathways on Europa and Enceladus: Space-Flight Detection Considerations

Weber

Marlin

Prakash

et al. 2023

Life

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Enceladus and Europa, icy moons of Saturn and Jupiter, respectively, are believed to be habitable with liquid water oceans and therefore are of interest for future life detection missions and mission concepts. With the limited data from missions to these moons, many studies have sought to better constrain these conditions. With these constraints, researchers have, based on modeling and experimental studies, hypothesized a number of possible metabolisms that could exist on Europa and Enceladus if these worlds host life. The most often hypothesized metabolisms are methanogenesis for Enceladus and methane oxidation/sulfate reduction on Europa. Here, we outline, review, and compare the best estimated conditions of each moon’s ocean. We then discuss the hypothetical metabolisms that have been suggested to be present on these moons, based on laboratory studies and Earth analogs. We also detail different detection methods that could be used to detect these hypothetical metabolic reactions and make recommendations for future research and considerations for future missions.

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Simulating putative Enceladus-like conditions: The possibility of biological methane production on Saturn’s icy moon

Cited by 2 publications

References 8 publications

Marine Science Can Contribute to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life

Marine Science Can Contribute to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life

A Review on Hypothesized Metabolic Pathways on Europa and Enceladus: Space-Flight Detection Considerations

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