This moon in our solar system, with a huge hidden ocean, may support life, says study

Researchers from the University of Arizona and Harvard University teamed up to explore Titan’s potential.

Wonder is often invoked by the question of extraterrestrial life. Within that fantasy, Saturn's moon Titan has had a special place all along. A recent investigation now explores the possibility of whether life, or even a minor one, would be possible within its hidden ocean.

Life deep within Titan's ice crust

In an effort to study Titan's possibility, researchers at Harvard University and the University of Arizona teamed up. They researched the moon's underground ocean, which is estimated to be approximately 480 kilometers beneath the surface, utilizing bioenergetic models.

Their study, revealed in The Planetary Science Journal, revealed that Titan may harbor microscopic life. It would feed on organic material that drifts within the sea. The entire biomass would be likely to be very low, however.

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Scientists point out that not all of Titan's intricate organics are life-friendly to eat. Moreover, there is minimal communication between the deep ocean, where life could originate, and the surface, where organics accumulate.

Future Titan microorganisms can be powered through fermentation

Most assumed Titan's rich organic compounds would easily support life, lead researcher Antonin Affholder says. His team took a more cautious line. They proposed fermentation, a simple biological reaction, as a possible source of energy.

Fermentation does not require oxygen, in contrast to respiration. It solely relies on organic materials that are readily available, including the most basic amino acid, glycine. "We asked, could similar microbes exist on Titan?" Affholder clarified.

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The researchers studied how much glycine-based energy bacteria would be able to obtain through simulations. They found that perhaps there was not much usable glycine. Debris on the surface is unable to easily reach the ocean because Titan has a strong ice cap.

Yet, researchers believe melt pools might sometimes be created by meteorite impacts. These temporary pools would bring surface materials into the water, offering temporary windows for life to thrive.

A tiny biosphere but an intriguing clue

The research found that Titan possesses a real but highly limited life potential. There would be hardly any bacteria if there were any. Perhaps the total biomass is only a few kilograms in weight.

This means that Titan's ocean can have, on average, fewer than one cell per liter of water. "This supply may only be sufficient to sustain a very small population," Affholder said.

Additional clues may come from NASA's Dragonfly mission, planned to launch in 2028. Titan remains a quiet, icy planet with a hint of life below its surface until then.