Scientists believe ice-encrusted Enceladus - with an ocean beneath its shell - could have a life-supporting energy source.

An environment that some scientists believe led to life on Earth has been found on Saturn's ocean-bearing moon Enceladus, NASA scientists have said.

A discovery of molecular hydrogen was made in October 2015 - but has only now come to light - when NASA's Cassini spacecraft took samples as it passed 30 miles (49 km) above the moon's southern pole.

Hydrogen molecules were detected in vapour plumes emerging from cracks in Enceladus' surface.

Such conditions occur when hot rocks meet ocean water, and may have led to the beginning of microbial life on Earth more than four billion years ago.



Previous discoveries include geysers which shoot hundreds of miles into space from Enceladus - some of the material falling back onto the surface as a coat of ice.



A vast ocean - believed to be the source of the geysers - is said to be buried between 19 and 25 miles (30-40 km) beneath Enceladus' icy shell.

http://news.sky.com/story/is-there-l...ladus-10836071