Newly Found Organics in Enceladus’ Plumes
- NASA’s Cassini mission has discovered new organic compounds in plumes of ice particles emanating from Enceladus’ ocean.
- The study, published in October 2025, analyzed data from the Cassini mission and found evidence of previously undetected organic molecules.
- Researchers also identified new organic compounds that could potentially lead to chemical or biochemical activity.
- The plumes were observed near Enceladus’ south pole, where dramatic water ice sprays are visible in images released by NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute.
- The discovery provides new insights into the potential for life on Enceladus and its moon’s subsurface ocean.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Dramatic plumes, both large and small, spray water ice out from many locations along the famed tiger stripes near the south pole of Saturn’s moon Enceladus in this image released on Feb. 23, 2010. A study published in October 2025 analyzed data from NASA’s Cassini mission and found evidence of previously undetected organic compounds in a plume of ice particles like the ones seen here. The ice particles were ejected from the ocean that lies under Enceladus’ frozen shell. Researchers spotted not only molecules they’ve found before but also new ones that lay a potential path to chemical or biochemical activity.
Learn more about what they discovered.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Q. What is the source of the newly found organic compounds?
A. The newly found organic compounds were discovered in a plume of ice particles ejected from the ocean under Enceladus’ frozen shell.
Q. Who conducted the study that analyzed data from NASA’s Cassini mission?
A. A study was published in October 2025, analyzing data from NASA’s Cassini mission.
Q. What is the significance of finding organic compounds in Enceladus’ plumes?
A. The discovery of new and previously detected organic compounds in Enceladus’ plumes suggests a potential path to chemical or biochemical activity.
Q. When was the image released that shows dramatic plumes spraying water ice from Enceladus?
A. The image was released on February 23, 2010.
Q. What is Enceladus’ moon of Saturn known for?
A. Enceladus is a moon of Saturn and is famous for its tiger stripes near the south pole.
Q. What did researchers spot in addition to molecules they’ve found before?
A. Researchers spotted new organic compounds that were not previously detected.
Q. Why is the discovery of these organic compounds significant?
A. The discovery suggests a potential path to chemical or biochemical activity, which could be important for understanding life beyond Earth.
Q. What was NASA’s Cassini mission used for in this study?
A. NASA’s Cassini mission provided data that was analyzed in the study.
Q. When did the study analyzing data from NASA’s Cassini mission publish its findings?
A. The study published its findings in October 2025.
Q. What is the potential implication of finding organic compounds in Enceladus’ plumes?
A. The discovery suggests a potential path to chemical or biochemical activity, which could be important for understanding life beyond Earth.