Saturn’s icy moon has long-term stability required for life to develop

A recent study has revealed that Saturn’s moon Enceladus exhibits significant heat flow not only at its well-known active south pole but also at its previously assumed inactive north pole. This discovery overturns prior beliefs that heat loss was confined to the south and confirms that Enceladus emits more heat than expected for a passive body. The heat is generated by tidal heating—gravitational stretching caused by Saturn’s pull—which maintains a stable, salty sub-surface ocean beneath the icy shell. This ocean, containing liquid water, heat, and key chemicals such as phosphorus and complex hydrocarbons, makes Enceladus one of the most promising locations in the solar system to potentially support life. The study, led by researchers from Oxford University, the Southwest Research Institute, and the Planetary Science Institute, emphasizes the importance of a balanced energy budget for the ocean’s long-term stability. If energy gains and losses were unbalanced, the ocean could freeze or become overly active, disrupting conditions necessary for life