Doubt: There is life hiding on Pluto

Experts are suggesting that Pluto is capable of nurturing life, based on some new evidence.

According to a recent study, on Pluto - the solar dwarf planet - has an underground ocean. This ocean is located just below the planet's heart-shaped plain (which is named Sputnik Planitia). And now, it is thought that this ocean is capable of nourishing life.

The underground ocean on Pluto fosters life?

Specifically, the study was conducted by experts from the University of Washington (USA), based on data from the New Horizons probe in July 2015 - the time this ship approached Pluto.

This research shows that the ocean on the Pluto is not actually water, but a liquid mixture with a major component of ammonia.

"New Horizons has confirmed ammonia on Charon - Pluto's largest satellite - and a few other satellites. So the big possibility is that inside Pluto also has this substance" - William McKinnon, the lead researcher for know.

With Pluto's distance from the Sun, the professor thought that the ocean would be extremely cold and extremely toxic. It will be very salty and more syrup-like."This is not the right place for bacteria or any life form to exist," added the professor.

The underground ocean on Pluto is not actually water.

However, after witnessing a sea of ​​Saturn's largest satellites of methane - Titan - the professor is questioning whether life is likely to exist in such extreme places.

For those who do not know, Saturn's Titan moon is extremely cold, about minus 179 degrees Celsius. But then, it was discovered that it contains liquid methane and ethane - but organic matter can only be exported. currently due to the existence of living organisms. So far, the conclusion about the creature on Titan is still unclear, many say that the other two can replace water, nurturing life completely different from Earth.

And now, the same question is posed to Pluto."With the sea of ​​methane found on Titan, the question is whether there is any form of life that can survive in that extremely toxic and extremely cold environment," Professor McKinnon said.

Is there life in a place with large amounts of ammonia like on Pluto?

According to the professor: "Life can exist in strange places: extremely salty, extremely cold, extremely hot . but I don't think there is any life to withstand a large amount of ammonia like on Pluto. By because the underground oceans here do not freeze, the amount of ammonia (acting as antifreeze) must be extremely huge. "

But, on Earth, a lot of bacteria in the soil have turned nitrogen into ammonia to ensure protein synthesis and DNA development. So, Professor shared: "If there is a life that exists in a toxic ocean and is covered by ice, it must be an extremely basic and primitive life form. Even the same kind as the precursor. cells - the first life form appears on Earth ".

In general, Pluto has life or not will need to be clarified in future studies. Only knowing that people still continue to hope for a place that can become a new base for humanity, of which the most prominent is still Mars.

The study is published in Nature.