14 DAY TRIAL // Planetary scientists now believe that the atmosphere surrounding Saturn's largest moon, Titan, may have what it takes to allow for the creation of basic molecules that make up DNA. The process may be going on regardless of the fact that there is no liquid water on the moon.
For a very long time, experts have been saying that it's impossible to witness the evolution of molecules making up deoxyribonucleic acid without the presence of water. But a new study shows that Titan's hydrocarbon atmosphere may be able to do just that.
Biological and chemical studies of DNA informed the long-term view that water and the molecule go hand in hand. But it could be that liquid hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane could replace water in this mix, at least to some extent.
The authors of the new study say that, even if DNA molecules are forming in the atmosphere, it still remains to be determined whether they combine in the manner necessary to create life. However, the research again underlines the importance of sending a robotic probe to this moon.
In the same research, French and American researchers explain that prebiotic molecules may have also formed in Earth's upper atmosphere billions of years ago. These chemicals may have then boosted the chances of basic lifeforms emerging from the primordial soup.
“We're really starting to get a sense for what kind of chemistry an atmosphere is capable of” carrying out, explains University of Arizona planetary sciences graduate student Sarah Hörst. She was the leader of the new investigation.
The datasets the research team used were collected by the NASA Cassini orbiter, which has been analyzing Saturn, its moons and its rings since July 1, 2004. Thus far, the probe carried out tens of flybys around Titan, Daily Galaxy reports.
During some of these flights, Cassini's instruments were able to discover the presence of large,organic molecules in the atmosphere, some 600 miles above the moon's surface. In simulations conducted here on Earth, it was determined that ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is critical for creating the molecules.
This type of light can destroy molecular nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and a host of other such chemicals. When the atoms making them up are freed, they become free to choose new partners to form larger molecules.
Some of these combinations are prebiotic molecules, the new investigation shows.