Saturn’s moon Titan has much in common with Earth, including an abundant atmosphere and liquid lakes, though with much different chemical composition, notes Ars Technica.
Now, researchers from Cornell University say the two bodies may have one more similarity – the ability to support life.
The team stresses that its findings are purely theoretical, but say it is within the realm of possibility that the hydrogen cyanide in Titan’s atmosphere could undergo a significant transformation.
If it reacts with itself or other chemicals in the right way, there is a chance it can become a polymer known as polyimine.
When exposed to enough of the sun’s energy, polyimine becomes a candidate for sparking the creation of life, even in Titan’s extremely frigid temperatures.
Martin Rahm, one of the researchers, said, “We need to continue to examine this, to understand how the chemistry evolves over time. We see this as a preparation for further exploration.”
