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Space & Astronomy

Could there be life on Pluto ?

By T.K. Randall
December 28, 2011 · Comment icon 20 comments

Image Credit: NASA
Scientists have discovered the 'building blocks of life' on the surface of the cold, distant world Pluto.
Evidence of complex organic molecules on Pluto was found via the Hubble Space Telescope and scientists now believe these might also be present on other objects in the Kuiper belt. "This is an exciting finding because complex Plutonian hydrocarbons and other molecules that could be responsible for the ultraviolet spectral features we found with Hubble may, among other things, be responsible for giving Pluto its ruddy color," said study leader Alan Stern.
Using the Hubble Space Telescope’s Cosmic Origins Spectrograph researchers discovered evidence of complex organic molecules which may be responsible for giving the planet its ruddy color.


Source: The Inquisitr | Comments (20)

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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #11 Posted by Mentalcase 13 years ago
All our assumptions are being broken the more we study the universe. The more we explore even our own solar system we our being surprised where we are finding signs of life whether Pluto,Europa,Callisto,Ganymede,Enceladaus and Titan. What new unexpected surprises are still to come time will tell. Just to clarify.. We are not finding signs of life, we are merely finding the "building blocks" of life. Meaning, that life can arise from these "building blocks". To be even more precise.. Complex hydrocarbon molecules are thought to have been crucial to the first life on planet earth.The new Cosmic ... [More]
Comment icon #12 Posted by OverSword 13 years ago
There is a very cool explanation of a possible way this could be in a series of books by Jame P. Hogan. Giants of Ganymede These fiction books really had an affect on my perception of our solar system and possible origin of our species.
Comment icon #13 Posted by Mentalcase 13 years ago
There is a very cool explanation of a possible way this could be in a series of books by Jame P. Hogan. Giants of Ganymede These fiction books really had an affect on my perception of our solar system and possible origin of our species. Awesome! I've always had an awesome imagination. I used to think Humans could have killed off the dinos. Could be true if we had high tech in our past. Would fit in with our mysterious origins. Forgetting the tech would make sense too, especially if only a handful of humans colonized. I'll buy this series.. Thanks for the suggestion!
Comment icon #14 Posted by OverSword 13 years ago
Awesome! I've always had an awesome imagination. I used to think Humans could have killed off the dinos. Could be true if we had high tech in our past. Would fit in with our mysterious origins. Forgetting the tech would make sense too, especially if only a handful of humans colonized. I'll buy this series.. Thanks for the suggestion! You're welcome. These books were written in the 70's but if memory serves, are in many ways accurate to the types of tech we have now such as laptops,internet, cellphones, etc. They also offer explanations to our religions, wars, superstitions......... Anyway, I r... [More]
Comment icon #15 Posted by Device 13 years ago
I'm no expert but I do know life has been found to be surviving under the most surprisingly extreme conditions here on Earth. So I wouldn't rule this out just yet.
Comment icon #16 Posted by bulveye 13 years ago
Does Pluto have a molten core? It could have them under water, or under ice, thermal vents that life likes to thrive on.
Comment icon #17 Posted by St.Anger 13 years ago
I wonder if Mr.Freeze would be able to survive on Pluto
Comment icon #18 Posted by King Fluffs 13 years ago
Thanks for your detailed scientific analysis... Always happy to lend a hand, WelshRed.
Comment icon #19 Posted by damndog 13 years ago
if this is where stephen hawking is looking at colonising, he can sod off!!!
Comment icon #20 Posted by psyche101 12 years ago
Te be quite honest, I would be surprised if the building blocks for life were absent, as they are common in space. Life's Building Blocks 'Abundant in Space' LINK The idea that comets and meteorites seeded an early Earth with the tools to make life has gained momentum from recent observations of some of these building blocks floating throughout the cosmos.Scientists scanning a galaxy 12 million light-years away with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope detected copious amounts of nitrogen containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PANHs), molecules critical to all known forms of life. PANHs aren't... [More]
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