3 worlds that may have life on them
14 Oct 2009, 1642 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

Washington, October 14 Scientists have come up with a new index to measure a world's fitness for life, and have decided upon three names that are most likely to harbor life.

According to a report in National Geographic News, known as the Standard Microbial Habitability index, the system rates worlds on a scale of 0 to 1 as to how suitable they are for microscopic life-forms like those on Earth.

"What's good for microorganisms is good for life in general," said research leader Abel Mendez, of the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo.

The index suggests that Saturn's icy moon Enceladus may be the extraterrestrial body most likely to support life as we know it in our solar system.

Enceladus scored 0.4, which is the same as Earth.

Scientists think Enceladus's icy shell hides a vast under-ice ocean, and the moon's relatively small size means its internal pressure is not too great.

The second world that scores high on the index is Mars.

Previous tests for life on Mars have turned up negative or inconclusive. But, the red planet received a promising score of 0.3 on the new Standard Microbial Habitability index, announced in October 2009.

Researchers think that the answer is to dig deeper. The sweet spot for Mars's life may be about 4 miles (6 kilometers) underground, according to Mendez.

"You have an envelope where the temperature and pressure are ideal for microbial communities," he said.

According to the new Standard Microbial Habitability index, like Saturn's moon Enceladus, Jupiter's moon Europa has a subsurface ocean that might support earthly life.

"The purported habitable zone on Europa, which earned a 0.3 on the index, is not as large as that of Saturn's Enceladus, but the ocean is shallower and perhaps easier to explore than that of Enceladus," said Mendez. (ANI)

Related Latest

FIFA may impose World Cup ban on French 'Hand Ball' striker Henry Beach ball that denied Liverpool victory donated to UK football museum Scientists find "predator" corals that eat jellyfish Soon, "green" tires that boost mileage and cut CO2 emissions New method to measure snow, soil moisture with GPS may benefit climate modelers Microbe poop on lava tubes offer clues for life on Mars Comets may have delivered water on Moon I would have hit striker Thierry Henry for 'handball goal': Cantona New discovery may lead to improved asthma drugs Rihanna wants her man to have a big "toy"

Related Latest

Winters leave Ladakh out of bound, make stocking of food material a must Eco-friendly vehicles rally held in Delhi People worship Highway Goddess for safe journey in Chennai Lucknow Zoo authorities treating tiger for cancer Hussey ready to cop criticism, but will let bat do the talking PAC supports idea of making Pak Army's financial records public Pak heading towards 'demographic disaster', warn experts MP Congress President loses cool, punches party worker Hauritz now Australia's No.1 spinner: Warne Spinner's pitch at Gabba won't assist Bollinger

• Winters leave Ladakh out of bound, make stocking of food material a must
• People worship Highway Goddess for safe journey in Chennai
• Lucknow Zoo authorities treating tiger for cancer
• Eco-friendly vehicles rally held in Delhi
• Hussey ready to cop criticism, but will let bat do the talking

• भारतीय क्रिकेट की मजबूत दीवार
• कंगारूओं के आगे ढेर, चीतों से कैसे मुकाबला करेंगें शेर
• Reducing greenhouse gases may not be enough to slow global warming
• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights