New data from the Cassini spacecraft reveals that hydrogen is disappearing near the surface of Titan, which is a moon of Saturn. Something is consuming both hydrogen and organic molecules, and astrobiologist’s believe that it might well be methane-based life.
Five years ago, NASA astrobiologist Christ McKay proposed that microbial life on Titan could well breathe hydrogen and eat acetylene, producing methane as a result. Interestingly enough, scientists have not been able to find acetylene on Titan either, despite the fact that this organic molecule should be present in abundant qualities in the moon’s dense atmosphere. This further supports McKay’s theory that there could well be life present on Titan.
However, scientists are at pains to point out that at this stage the findings are not proof of life, and that non-biological causes should be ruled out first. Even if life is ruled out, the non-biological causes are still pretty fascinating.
It is possible that carbon is blending hydrogen to produce methane, but scientists believe that Titan is too cold for that to happen rapidly enough to account for all the missing hydrogen. Another theory is that an unknown mineral could be the culprit, meaning that a new substance could be discovered.
Another fascinating find by Cassini is that it has sighted an organic compound with the benzene that scientists has so far been unable to identify. Cassini has several more Titan flybys in which to gather data, and will specifically focus on Kraken Mare, the biggest lake on Titan (bigger than the Caspian Sea). It is believed that if methane-based microbes do live on Titan, there is a strong likelihood that they would exist in just such a lake.
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