[crossposted at Daily Kos]
First saw this at talk.origins
The Cassini-Huygens team has discovered complex organic molecules in the atmosphere of Titan.
This discovery raises some interesting questions about how these organics may have formed here on Earth. This gives us an opportunity to study formation of these complex molecules in an atmosphere that is not so influenced by the biological processes occurring in our own.
Exciting stuff.
April 25, 2005
(Source: Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Cassini’s Views of Titan
During its closest flyby of Saturn’s moon Titan on April 16, the Cassini spacecraft came within 1,027 kilometers (638 miles) of the moon’s surface and found that the outer layer of the thick, hazy atmosphere is brimming with complex hydrocarbons.
Scientists believe that Titan’s atmosphere may be a laboratory for studying the organic chemistry that preceded life and provided the building blocks for life on Earth. The role of the upper atmosphere in this organic “factory” of hydrocarbons is very intriguing to scientists, especially given the large number of different hydrocarbons detected by Cassini during the flyby.
“Biology on Earth is the primary source of organic production we are familiar with, but the key question is: what is the ultimate source of the organics in the solar system?” added Waite.
This is some cool stuff if you are a nerd.
This could have an influence on the Evolution/Creation debate here on our little planet.
Seatlle Liberal. I didn’t run into this story in the regular press.
I’m very proud to “out” myslef here and now as a very proud member of the set of all sets wchih conatain not only themslves but also nerds, gorks, geeks, odd-balls,
nose-in-the-books, impratcial cogitators, ad infinutum or at least transfitium.
Hmmm… to the substace of the matter. Thus would tend to provide some solid, if not exactly concluisive, support for the theory of pansermia. I was almost ready to dimsiss that one!!!
Thanks for the update. As far as creationism goes, I don’t participate in that debate any more. You either accept evolution as a fact or you’re a dangerous fanactic.
sorry. That’s the theory of panspermia not pansermia. It’s simply the theory that life came to earth from elsewhere in the universe pre-assembled.
The existence of comlex hydocarbons which have already achieved a certain level of relatively sophisticated molecular organization would tend to indicate that such a prospect is not complelty out of the question at all.
Thee fact that the components of life came from elswhere in the universe has been non-controversial accepted by scientists for some time.
It sure is cool.
I’ve had a longstanding but very amateurish interest in cosmology and space exploration mainly because the science involved is so fascinating. Much of it is conducted in a rather abstract way, for example explaining the nature of objects and events many light years away on the basis of the light reaching the Earth. But the science is all based on things which can be proven and observed here on Earth.
The search for life in the solar system and beyond is not just about finding out whether we Earth creatures are alone in the universe: it’s also seeking scientific explanations about how life came to exist on Earth. I don’t know how the complex hydrocarbons on Titan fit into the picture, but I’m sure this means a lot to a nerd working on it somewhere.
The things that really get me about deep space exploration are the way that the technology has almost always worked so beautifully; calculations of trajectories involving spacecraft slingshots from planetary gravity have been so precise that the Voyagers could visit multiple planets in the outer solar system; and we keep getting signals years later as the spacecraft reach the edge of the solar system. These are huge compliments to the science and scientists involved, and of course to the many billions of dollars invested. Whether it’s worth it is another matter.
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Excellent diary SeattleLiberal – RECOMMENDED!
Please keep us updated.
HUYGENS – CASSINI
HUYGENS sends first Titan images
by creve coeur Sat Jan 15th, 2005
The Huygens probe has landed and is sending first images from
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, scientists are in awe.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
yes, yes, recommended!! Science news doens’t get nearly enough attention. And with great images to boot.
In an ideal world we would be focusing on these things. I feel forced to clutter up my mind with Iraq and the state of the world for the most part – although the future lies elsewhere. Thanks for the post.