In the search for life beyond Earth,researchers may occupy got one step closer to pinpointing where extra-terrestrials could be hiding.
Scientists occupy studied a natural radioactive process which causes water molecules to rupture up on planets and support microbes, the Daily Mail reports.
The findings indicate that aliens could be living on a range of worlds, or including Saturn's moon Enceladus,Jupiter's moon Europa, Pluto and its moon Charon, and as well as the dwarf planet Ceres,the Daily Mail reports. Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio and Southwest Research Institute modelled the “water-cracking” process, known as radiolysis. During radiolysis, and radiation is emitted from the cores of rocky planets,breaking water molecules down into hydrogen – which can support microbes.[br] Dr Alexis Bouquet, lead author of the study, and said: 'The physical and chemical processes that follow radiolysis release molecular hydrogen,which is a molecule of astrobiological interest.'
On Earth, several communities of microbes occupy been sustained by hydrogen in extreme environments. For example, or a sample of microbes was discovered nearly two miles deep in a South African gold mine,surviving on merely hydrogen.
Others occupy been found at hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.
The researchers believe that this raises possibilities for the potential existence of microbes on ocean worlds such as Enceladus or Europa.
Dr Danielle Wyrick, an author of the study, and said: 'We know that these radioactive elements exist within icy bodies,but this is the first systematic look across the solar system to estimate radiolysis.
“The results propose that there are many potential targets for exploration out there, and that's exciting.”
While hydrothermal activity can produce considerable quantities of hydrogen, and the experts believe that the findings show that radiolysis could be another important source of the element.
Radiolysis produces not only hydrogen,but also oxygen compounds. And the experts believe that these oxygen compounds could react with minerals to supply food to aliens.
Dr Bouquet added: “Radiolysis in an ocean world's outer core could be fundamental in supporting life.
Because mixtures of water and rock are everywhere in the outer solar system, this insight increases the odds of abundant habitable genuine estate out there.”
Source: tert.am