Detecting cell membrane material on Titan moon

The molecules have the ability to create cell membranes discovered in lakes on Saturn's Titan moon.

Scientists from the US Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) said Cassini spacecraft first discovered Saturn's Titan cyanide molecules , Digital Trends, on July 29, reported. Vinyl cyanide contains three carbon atoms, three hydrogen atoms and one nitrogen atom, believed to be the number one molecular candidate in the ability to make cell membranes .

In a study published in Science Advances, the researchers combined the detection of Cassini's spectroscopy with data from the ALMA radio telescope, confirming the existence of titanium cyanide on Titan as predicted by many decades. this century.

Saturn's Titan moon.(Photo: NASA).

Vinyl cyanide forms in Titan atmosphere . More than 10 billion tons of this molecule may be floating in Ligeia Mare, the second largest lake north of Titan. Scientists do not know what happens when these molecules enter the water.

"This finding differs from the claim that life exists on Titan and these cells are in some primitive life forms , " said co-author, celestial chemist Martin Cordiner. "But if there is life in the lake on Titan, the vinyl cyanide may be a component of that life seems reasonable."

Titan is a good candidate for the existence of alien life . This is the second place in the solar system that has liquid on the surface. The atmosphere of Titan contains mainly nitrogen and compounds similar to those found on Earth, which play an important role in life.

Scientists say there is no perfect evidence of the existence of cell membranes on Titan. Another spacecraft needs to be sent to this area to continue research.

Since 2004, Cassini spacecraft flew around Saturn, helping scientists study Titan's moon. More than 10 years ago, Cassini found evidence of molecules with a vinyl cyanide-like structure but could not determine whether it was the molecular structure of vinyl cyanide.