Building Blocks for Surviving Titan

  • Released Monday, June 4, 2018
  • ID: 12736
Saturn’s moon, Titan, may have a building block for potential cell membranes.

Saturn’s moon, Titan, may have a building block for potential cell membranes.

Learn what NASA scientists' discovery of one chemical on Titan means for life in the solar system.

Acrylonitrile is a molecule that can form spherical membranes that could protect life from Titan's environment.

Acrylonitrile is a molecule that can form spherical membranes that could protect life from Titan's environment.

Titan lakes may contain acrylonitrile that rains out of the atmosphere. Ligeia Mare above is as large as Lakes Huron and Michigan combined.

Titan lakes may contain acrylonitrile that rains out of the atmosphere. Ligeia Mare above is as large as Lakes Huron and Michigan combined.

Titan is an icy moon with hydrocarbon lakes (dark spots) near the north pole and clouds made of methane.

Titan is an icy moon with hydrocarbon lakes (dark spots) near the north pole and clouds made of methane.

Titan is Saturn's largest moon and the second largest moon in the solar system.

Titan is Saturn's largest moon and the second largest moon in the solar system.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Titan images courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute:
Titan Up Front
Vast Ligeia Mare in False Color
Northern Summer on Titan
Colorful Colossuses and Changing Hues

You may also like...

Loading recommendations...