Scientists reported on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that new types of organic molecules were discovered in the icy geysers of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. The discovery was made from data collected by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft during a fast flyby in 2008. Enceladus, a small moon measuring about 500 kilometers across, is known for water plumes erupting near its south pole. These plumes come from a hidden ocean beneath the ice, making the moon a strong candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life. The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, showed that the newly observed organic grains were much younger than older ones that had traveled into Saturn’s outer rings. Researchers explained that the younger grains provided a more pristine sample, allowing a clearer view of the chemical compounds. Experts stated that these compounds increased the moon’s potential habitability but stressed that the presence of life had not been confirmed.

The analysis revealed that fresh ice grains, colliding with Cassini’s dust analyzer at speeds of 64,800 kilometers per hour, contained both known and newly detected organics. The results suggested that these compounds came directly from the subsurface ocean and might be linked to hydrothermal activity on the seafloor, similar to systems on Earth that support marine ecosystems. Scientists emphasized that habitability does not equal habitation, but they described the discovery as phenomenal and worthy of further study. Plans for future missions are under discussion, including proposals from the European Space Agency and China for landers. NASA is also preparing the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa, scheduled to begin flybys in 2030. Experts concluded that such subterranean oceans remain among the most plausible environments for the emergence of life in the solar system.