Essential elements found for life on Saturn's moon, scientists gathered information from data from NASA's Cassini mission

Astronomers have been searching for life on planets other than Earth for many years. In this sequence, some evidence related to biological processes has been found on Saturn's moon Enceladus. Researchers reported on Wednesday that a large ocean may be buried under icy rocks on Enceladus.

Detected to be phosphorous

Using data from NASA's Cassini mission, scientists have discovered phosphate as one of six elements needed for biological processes in Enceladus' oceans. It is known that NASA started this mission in 2004 and it was closed in 2017 after 13 years. Researchers found abundant phosphorus in the ocean water beneath the icy rocks on Enceladus during this time.

Many elements have already been found

It is known that phosphorus has been found in the form of phosphates in ice crystals emanating from the inner ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus. However, scientists have previously found many of the elements necessary for human life in Enceladus' oceans, including carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur.

Why is it so important to get phosphorus?

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) said in a release that this type of essential element has been found for the first time in Saturn's ocean other than Earth. Phosphorus is fundamental to the structure of DNA and an important part of cell membranes and energy-carrying molecules present in all forms of life on Earth.

Enceladus may be habitable

It is known that the new discovery of phosphorus in Enceladus has strengthened the possibilities of life here and Saturn's moon Enceladus can be habitable.