Enceladus Ocean Life Possible, Bacteria Study Shows A new study finds that deep-sea bacteria can thrive in simulated Enceladus ocean conditions, raising hopes that life may exist beneath the moon's icy surface. Scientists have found that certain micro-organisms can survive and even thrive in conditions mimicking the subsurface oceans of Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. The discovery raises the probability that life may one day be found on the icy moon. The study, led by researchers at Freie Universitat Berlin, recreated the hostile environment of Enceladus' ocean in the laboratory and introduced bacteria that normally live on deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Enceladus: A Promising Candidate for LifeEnceladus has a diameter of about 310 miles (500km), roughly the width of Arizona. Its surface is exceptionally cold, with temperatures dropping to -201°C (-330°F). Despite the barren, icy exterior, scientists consider it one of the most promising places in our solar system to search for extraterrestrial life.Geothermal processes deep near its rocky core generate enough heat to maintain large oceans of liquid water beneath the surface. Near the south pole, plumes of ocean water erupt through cracks in the crust, shooting ice particles hundreds of miles into space. NASA's Cassini probe flew through these plumes multiple times, gathering samples and analysing their chemical composition.This revealed signs of hydrothermal processes on the seafloor, which could be key to sustaining life, along with organic chemicals that could provide the building blocks of amino acids and proteins.Laboratory Simulation Shows Unexpected SurvivalIn the laboratory, researchers recreated the conditions of Enceladus' subsurface oceans and introduced a type of bacteria called Methanothermococcus okinawensis, which normally lives in deep-ocean hydrothermal vents. The bacteria have an incredible natural ability to survive without oxygen, instead running their metabolism on carbon dioxide and hydrogen released by geologically active rocks.Scientists thought that with almost no oxygen, high concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide, and an extremely alkaline pH, the ocean would be hostile to life. However, they were shocked to find that these hardy microbes tolerated the alien conditions far better than previously thought possible.Dr Nozair Khawaja of Freie Universitat Berlin and co-author of the study said, This was really a surprise to us. This was an experiment for which we did not expect such a successful outcome.Co-author Professor Frank Postberg, a planetary scientist at Freie Universitat Berlin, told the Daily Mail that on early Earth there was no oxygen either, and these ancient microbes developed under such conditions. Previously, scientists had thought that the high pH of Enceladus' ocean was unsuitable for them, but the laboratory tests showed that they are more than happy to grow in these tough conditions.In the tests, the bacteria were even able to adapt their metabolism to the low amounts of carbon dioxide. Professor Postberg said this shows that life could survive on Enceladus, but added that it is by no means certain that it actually does.New Research May Simplify the Search for LifeIn a separate paper also published today, Professor Postberg shows that signs of life may be much easier to find than previously thought. Droplets of the ocean are ejected from Enceladus' south pole when bubbles filled with gas rise to the surface and pop.Water vapour then carries these droplets through cracks in the ice shell and out into space at speeds up to 620 miles per hour (1,000km/h), where scientists assumed they would instantly freeze. However, new modelling and laboratory tests show that these droplets actually freeze quite slowly.Researchers say the fact that these droplets freeze slowly means that some chemicals are concentrated into a few locations. This would make it easier for spacecraft to detect any chemical signs of life.Enceladus was discovered on 28 August 1789 by William Herschel. It orbits Saturn at a distance of 148,000 miles (238,000 km) and has an orbital period of 32.9 hours.The new findings add to the growing body of evidence that Enceladus could harbour life, but scientists caution that any confirmation may be years away.