Quantum effects could be key to the chemistry of life on Titan
18 March 2023
Saturn’s moon Titan is too cold for many types of chemical reactions, but quantum tunnelling could present a loophole that would allow reactions that are crucial for life
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Premium
Scott Bolton on his missions to the gas giants of the solar system
19 July 2022
After decades of heading NASA’s exploration of Saturn, Jupiter and their moons, the space physicist describes what we have learned and what future missions must now answer
Saturn’s moon Titan may be doomed to fly away or smash into the planet
22 October 2021
Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, is slowly migrating away from the planet, which is tilting Saturn onto its side and may eventually doom the moon to orbital chaos
The solar system has too many moons – it's time for a cull
23 October 2019
Designating rocks just a few kilometres across as moons is misleading and ridiculous. We need to do a Pluto and cut moons down to size, argues Leah Crane
Titan’s seas may be coated in organic goop that stops waves forming
13 May 2019
Saturn’s moon Titan has liquid methane seas that are remarkably calm, which may be because a layer of organic “snow” fallen from the atmosphere kills any waves
Saturn’s moon Titan has an alien lake district that looks like Earth
15 April 2019
NASA's Cassini spacecraft used radar data to scan the surface of Saturn's moon Titan, helping us learn about its lakes of methane
Return to Titan: Why this icy world is our best bet to find life
21 March 2018
Tantalising clues suggest the weird seas on Saturn’s largest moon contain a chemical cocktail capable of spawning life. A daring mission now aims to find out
Weird crystals could grow on Titan and help alien life thrive
13 March 2018
The surface of Saturn’s largest moon Titan might be covered, salt-like crystals that could be among the ingredients for nitrogen-based alien life
