{
    "id": 20411,
    "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/",
    "page_type": "Animation",
    "title": "A Pathway to Protocells on Titan – Animations",
    "description": "These animations illustrate how simple protocells could form in the lakes of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. When rain falls from Titan’s methane clouds into its hydrocarbon lakes, it can transport organic molecules like acrylonitrile that are attracted to both water and oil. Such amphiphile molecules are likely to collect in a thin film on the surface of Titan’s lakes. As large raindrops pelt the lakes, they could stir up this floating “pond scum” to form spherical droplets of methane coated in a bilayer of amphiphiles – structures called vesicles that resemble cell membranes on Earth.Although such vesicles have yet to be detected on Titan, a 2025 study by Christian Mayer and NASA scientist Conor Nixon lays out the process for their formation and evolution, and it proposes a mechanism for their discovery by a future mission to Titan. The paper also proposes that different mixtures of amphiphiles could stabilize vesicles and lead to the evolution of simple protocells on Titan. || ",
    "release_date": "2026-01-14T10:00:00-05:00",
    "update_date": "2026-01-15T21:08:15.267311-05:00",
    "main_image": {
        "id": 1195773,
        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
        "filename": "3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
        "media_type": "Image",
        "alt_text": "Acrylonitrile molecules drift through Titan’s atmosphere. These simple organics could form membrane-like bubbles called “vesicles” within Titan’s lakes.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
        "width": 1024,
        "height": 576,
        "pixels": 589824
    },
    "main_video": null,
    "main_credits": {
        "Visualizations by": [
            {
                "name": "Kim Dongjae",
                "employer": "eMITS"
            }
        ],
        "Produced by": [
            {
                "name": "Dan Gallagher",
                "employer": "eMITS"
            }
        ],
        "Scientific consulting by": [
            {
                "name": "Christian Mayer",
                "employer": "Universität Duisburg-Essen"
            },
            {
                "name": "Conor Nixon",
                "employer": "NASA/GSFC"
            }
        ]
    },
    "progress": "Complete",
    "media_groups": [
        {
            "id": 379176,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379176",
            "widget": "Basic text with HTML",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "These animations illustrate how simple protocells could form in the lakes of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. When rain falls from Titan’s methane clouds into its hydrocarbon lakes, it can transport organic molecules like acrylonitrile that are attracted to both water and oil. Such amphiphile molecules are likely to collect in a thin film on the surface of Titan’s lakes. As large raindrops pelt the lakes, they could stir up this floating “pond scum” to form spherical droplets of methane coated in a bilayer of amphiphiles – structures called vesicles that resemble cell membranes on Earth.<p>Although such vesicles have yet to be detected on Titan, <a href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/planetary-science/astrobiology/path-toward-protocells-on-titan/\" target=\"_blank\">a 2025 study by Christian Mayer and NASA scientist Conor Nixon</a> lays out the process for their formation and evolution, and it proposes a mechanism for their discovery by a future mission to Titan. The paper also proposes that different mixtures of amphiphiles could stabilize vesicles and lead to the evolution of simple protocells on Titan.",
            "items": [],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379168,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379168",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "Zoom in on Saturn’s ring plane to reveal Titan, the only place in the solar system besides Earth that is known to have large lakes on its surface.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504278,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195769,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/1-Saturn-Titan-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "1-Saturn-Titan-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Zoom in on Saturn’s ring plane to reveal Titan, the only place in the solar system besides Earth that is known to have large lakes on its surface.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504277,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195768,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/1-Saturn-Titan-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "1-Saturn-Titan-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Zoom in on Saturn’s ring plane to reveal Titan, the only place in the solar system besides Earth that is known to have large lakes on its surface.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504242,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159775,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Space_Shot.mp4",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Space_Shot.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Zoom in on Saturn’s ring plane to reveal Titan, the only place in the solar system besides Earth that is known to have large lakes on its surface.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 854,
                        "height": 480,
                        "pixels": 409920
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504241,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159758,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Space_Shot.mov",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Space_Shot.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Zoom in on Saturn’s ring plane to reveal Titan, the only place in the solar system besides Earth that is known to have large lakes on its surface.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379169,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379169",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "Titan’s clouds part to reveal an icy landscape stained by organic molecules. In the distance, a hydrocarbon lake is slicked with an iridescent sheen.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504280,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195771,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/2-Titan-Reveal-Surface-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "2-Titan-Reveal-Surface-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Titan’s clouds part to reveal an icy landscape stained by organic molecules. In the distance, a hydrocarbon lake is slicked with an iridescent sheen.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504279,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195770,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/2-Titan-Reveal-Surface-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "2-Titan-Reveal-Surface-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Titan’s clouds part to reveal an icy landscape stained by organic molecules. In the distance, a hydrocarbon lake is slicked with an iridescent sheen.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504247,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159772,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Lake_Descent.mp4",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Lake_Descent.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Titan’s clouds part to reveal an icy landscape stained by organic molecules. In the distance, a hydrocarbon lake is slicked with an iridescent sheen.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 854,
                        "height": 480,
                        "pixels": 409920
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504243,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159757,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Lake_Descent.mov",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Lake_Descent.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Titan’s clouds part to reveal an icy landscape stained by organic molecules. In the distance, a hydrocarbon lake is slicked with an iridescent sheen.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379170,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379170",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "Acrylonitrile molecules drift through Titan’s atmosphere. These simple organics could form membrane-like bubbles called “vesicles” within Titan’s lakes.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504282,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195773,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Acrylonitrile molecules drift through Titan’s atmosphere. These simple organics could form membrane-like bubbles called “vesicles” within Titan’s lakes.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504281,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195772,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Acrylonitrile molecules drift through Titan’s atmosphere. These simple organics could form membrane-like bubbles called “vesicles” within Titan’s lakes.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504283,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195774,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail_searchweb.png",
                        "filename": "3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail_searchweb.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Acrylonitrile molecules drift through Titan’s atmosphere. These simple organics could form membrane-like bubbles called “vesicles” within Titan’s lakes.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 320,
                        "height": 180,
                        "pixels": 57600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504284,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195775,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail_thm.png",
                        "filename": "3-Acrylonitrile-Molecule-Thumbnail_thm.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Acrylonitrile molecules drift through Titan’s atmosphere. These simple organics could form membrane-like bubbles called “vesicles” within Titan’s lakes.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 80,
                        "height": 40,
                        "pixels": 3200
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504249,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159768,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Acrylonitrile_Shot.mp4",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Acrylonitrile_Shot.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Acrylonitrile molecules drift through Titan’s atmosphere. These simple organics could form membrane-like bubbles called “vesicles” within Titan’s lakes.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 854,
                        "height": 480,
                        "pixels": 409920
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504248,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159761,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Acrylonitrile_Shot.mov",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Acrylonitrile_Shot.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Acrylonitrile molecules drift through Titan’s atmosphere. These simple organics could form membrane-like bubbles called “vesicles” within Titan’s lakes.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379171,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379171",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "Methane rain falls into a hydrocarbon lake, delivering the chemical ingredients and the kinetic energy needed to form membrane-like bubbles. The view tilts upward to a methane rain cloud.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504286,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195777,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/4-Lake-Methane-Rain-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "4-Lake-Methane-Rain-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Methane rain falls into a hydrocarbon lake, delivering the chemical ingredients and the kinetic energy needed to form membrane-like bubbles. The view tilts upward to a methane rain cloud.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504285,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195776,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/4-Lake-Methane-Rain-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "4-Lake-Methane-Rain-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Methane rain falls into a hydrocarbon lake, delivering the chemical ingredients and the kinetic energy needed to form membrane-like bubbles. The view tilts upward to a methane rain cloud.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504255,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159774,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Rain.mp4",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Rain.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Methane rain falls into a hydrocarbon lake, delivering the chemical ingredients and the kinetic energy needed to form membrane-like bubbles. The view tilts upward to a methane rain cloud.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 854,
                        "height": 480,
                        "pixels": 409920
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504254,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159762,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Rain.mov",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Rain.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Methane rain falls into a hydrocarbon lake, delivering the chemical ingredients and the kinetic energy needed to form membrane-like bubbles. The view tilts upward to a methane rain cloud.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379172,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379172",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "Sunlight drives chemical reactions in Titan’s upper atmosphere. Methane and molecular nitrogen are broken apart and reassembled into the organic molecules needed to form protocell-like bubbles.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504288,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195779,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/5-Acrylonitrile-Production-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "5-Acrylonitrile-Production-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Sunlight drives chemical reactions in Titan’s upper atmosphere. Methane and molecular nitrogen are broken apart and reassembled into the organic molecules needed to form protocell-like bubbles.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504287,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195778,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/5-Acrylonitrile-Production-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "5-Acrylonitrile-Production-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Sunlight drives chemical reactions in Titan’s upper atmosphere. Methane and molecular nitrogen are broken apart and reassembled into the organic molecules needed to form protocell-like bubbles.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504261,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159773,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Molecule_Shot.mp4",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Molecule_Shot.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Sunlight drives chemical reactions in Titan’s upper atmosphere. Methane and molecular nitrogen are broken apart and reassembled into the organic molecules needed to form protocell-like bubbles.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 854,
                        "height": 480,
                        "pixels": 409920
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504260,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159760,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Molecule_Shot.mov",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Molecule_Shot.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Sunlight drives chemical reactions in Titan’s upper atmosphere. Methane and molecular nitrogen are broken apart and reassembled into the organic molecules needed to form protocell-like bubbles.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379173,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379173",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "A large raindrop falls into a methane lake, which is covered by a layer of acrylonitrile molecules. The raindrop splashes up small droplets of methane coated in a single layer of acrylonitrile.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504290,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195781,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/6-Raindrop-Into-Lake-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "6-Raindrop-Into-Lake-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "A large raindrop falls into a methane lake, which is covered by a layer of acrylonitrile molecules. The raindrop splashes up small droplets of methane coated in a single layer of acrylonitrile.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504289,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195780,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/6-Raindrop-Into-Lake-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "6-Raindrop-Into-Lake-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "A large raindrop falls into a methane lake, which is covered by a layer of acrylonitrile molecules. The raindrop splashes up small droplets of methane coated in a single layer of acrylonitrile.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504265,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159769,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt1.mp4",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt1.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "A large raindrop falls into a methane lake, which is covered by a layer of acrylonitrile molecules. The raindrop splashes up small droplets of methane coated in a single layer of acrylonitrile.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 854,
                        "height": 480,
                        "pixels": 409920
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504264,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159764,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt1.mov",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt1.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "A large raindrop falls into a methane lake, which is covered by a layer of acrylonitrile molecules. The raindrop splashes up small droplets of methane coated in a single layer of acrylonitrile.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379174,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379174",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "A methane droplet falls and sinks back into the lake. As it passes through the surface, it receives a second coating of acrylonitrile, creating a protocell-like bubble called a vesicle.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504292,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195783,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/7-Vesicle-Formation-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "7-Vesicle-Formation-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "A methane droplet falls and sinks back into the lake. As it passes through the surface, it receives a second coating of acrylonitrile, creating a protocell-like bubble called a vesicle.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504291,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195782,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/7-Vesicle-Formation-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "7-Vesicle-Formation-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "A methane droplet falls and sinks back into the lake. As it passes through the surface, it receives a second coating of acrylonitrile, creating a protocell-like bubble called a vesicle.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504267,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159770,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt2.mp4",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt2.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "A methane droplet falls and sinks back into the lake. As it passes through the surface, it receives a second coating of acrylonitrile, creating a protocell-like bubble called a vesicle.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 854,
                        "height": 480,
                        "pixels": 409920
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504266,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159759,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt2.mov",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt2.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "A methane droplet falls and sinks back into the lake. As it passes through the surface, it receives a second coating of acrylonitrile, creating a protocell-like bubble called a vesicle.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379175,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379175",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "If vesicles in Titan’s lakes have more stable and less stable mixes of amphiphiles, the most stable would eventually become predominant – an evolutionary process that could lead to the formation of simple protocells.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504294,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195785,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/8-Vesicle-Evolution-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "8-Vesicle-Evolution-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "If vesicles in Titan’s lakes have more stable and less stable mixes of amphiphiles, the most stable would eventually become predominant – an evolutionary process that could lead to the formation of simple protocells.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504293,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195784,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/8-Vesicle-Evolution-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "8-Vesicle-Evolution-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "If vesicles in Titan’s lakes have more stable and less stable mixes of amphiphiles, the most stable would eventually become predominant – an evolutionary process that could lead to the formation of simple protocells.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504269,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159771,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt3.mp4",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt3.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "If vesicles in Titan’s lakes have more stable and less stable mixes of amphiphiles, the most stable would eventually become predominant – an evolutionary process that could lead to the formation of simple protocells.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 854,
                        "height": 480,
                        "pixels": 409920
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504268,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1159763,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt3.mov",
                        "filename": "TitanProtoCell_Droplet_Shot_pt3.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "If vesicles in Titan’s lakes have more stable and less stable mixes of amphiphiles, the most stable would eventually become predominant – an evolutionary process that could lead to the formation of simple protocells.Credit: NASA Goddard/CI Lab",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379475,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379475",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "Cross section of a cell membrane in a terrestrial organism. Cell membranes are composed of a lipid bilayer that separates the cell from its environment, along with membrane proteins that help to carry out vital functions.<p>Credit: NASA Goddard",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 504276,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195767,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/9-Cell-Membrane-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "filename": "9-Cell-Membrane-Thumbnail_print.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Cross section of a cell membrane in a terrestrial organism. Cell membranes are composed of a lipid bilayer that separates the cell from its environment, along with membrane proteins that help to carry out vital functions.Credit: NASA Goddard",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504273,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195764,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/9-Cell-Membrane-Thumbnail.png",
                        "filename": "9-Cell-Membrane-Thumbnail.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Cross section of a cell membrane in a terrestrial organism. Cell membranes are composed of a lipid bilayer that separates the cell from its environment, along with membrane proteins that help to carry out vital functions.Credit: NASA Goddard",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504274,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195765,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/Cell_Membrane_Zoom_In_V3_Small.mp4",
                        "filename": "Cell_Membrane_Zoom_In_V3_Small.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Cross section of a cell membrane in a terrestrial organism. Cell membranes are composed of a lipid bilayer that separates the cell from its environment, along with membrane proteins that help to carry out vital functions.Credit: NASA Goddard",
                        "width": 1280,
                        "height": 720,
                        "pixels": 921600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 504275,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 1195766,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020411/Cell_Membrane_Zoom_In_V3.mov",
                        "filename": "Cell_Membrane_Zoom_In_V3.mov",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "Cross section of a cell membrane in a terrestrial organism. Cell membranes are composed of a lipid bilayer that separates the cell from its environment, along with membrane proteins that help to carry out vital functions.Credit: NASA Goddard",
                        "width": 3840,
                        "height": 2160,
                        "pixels": 8294400
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 379476,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20411/#media_group_379476",
            "widget": "Basic text",
            "title": "For More Information",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "See [NASA.gov](https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/planetary-science/astrobiology/path-toward-protocells-on-titan/)",
            "items": [],
            "extra_data": {}
        }
    ],
    "studio": "cil",
    "funding_sources": [
        "PAO"
    ],
    "credits": [
        {
            "role": "Animator",
            "people": [
                {
                    "name": "Kim Dongjae",
                    "employer": "eMITS"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Wes D. Buchanan",
                    "employer": "eMITS"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Jenny McElligott",
                    "employer": "eMITS"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Dan Gallagher",
                    "employer": "eMITS"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "role": "Project manager",
            "people": [
                {
                    "name": "Walt Feimer",
                    "employer": "eMITS"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "role": "Art director",
            "people": [
                {
                    "name": "Michael Lentz",
                    "employer": "eMITS"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "role": "Producer",
            "people": [
                {
                    "name": "Dan Gallagher",
                    "employer": "eMITS"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "role": "Scientist",
            "people": [
                {
                    "name": "Christian Mayer",
                    "employer": "Universität Duisburg-Essen"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Conor Nixon",
                    "employer": "NASA/GSFC"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "missions": [],
    "series": [],
    "tapes": [],
    "papers": [],
    "datasets": [],
    "nasa_science_categories": [
        "Planets & Moons"
    ],
    "keywords": [
        "Acrylonitrile",
        "Amphiphile",
        "Animation",
        "Astrobiology",
        "Atmosphere",
        "Biology",
        "Carbon",
        "Cell",
        "Chemistry",
        "Earth Science",
        "HDTV",
        "Lake",
        "Membrane",
        "Methane",
        "precipitation",
        "Protocell",
        "rain",
        "Rainfall",
        "Titan",
        "Vesicle"
    ],
    "recommended_pages": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "id": 20403,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20403/",
            "page_type": "Animation",
            "title": "Titan science results from James Webb Space Telescope: animation resource page",
            "description": "Push into JWST to Saturn and Titan. || JWST_Titan_Intro_Final_V001.00957_print.jpg (1024x576) [145.8 KB] || JWST_Titan_Intro_Final_V001.00957_searchweb.png (320x180) [78.0 KB] || JWST_Titan_Intro_Final_V001.00957_thm.png [5.5 KB] || JWST_Titan_Intro_Final_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [72.8 MB] || JWST_Titan_Intro_Final_V001.mp4 (3840x2160) [38.4 MB] || JWST_Titan_Intro_Final_V001.mov (3840x2160) [6.8 GB] || ",
            "release_date": "2025-05-14T09:00:00-04:00",
            "update_date": "2025-05-15T17:03:37.922541-04:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 1155125,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020403/JWST_Titan_Intro_Final_V001.00957_print.jpg",
                "filename": "JWST_Titan_Intro_Final_V001.00957_print.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "Push into JWST to Saturn and Titan.",
                "width": 1024,
                "height": 576,
                "pixels": 589824
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 14843,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14843/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "Webb Spies Rain Clouds, New Molecule on Titan",
            "description": "NASA’s Webb Telescope has discovered a new molecule in Titan’s atmosphere – one that may have implications for the future of this surprisingly Earthlike world.Complete transcript available.Universal Production Music: “Barfuß Durch Die Stadt” by Edgar Möller [GEMA] and Lucia Wilke [GEMA]; “Into the Void” by Gage Boozan [ASCAP]; “Pulse of Progress” by Emma Zarobyan [SOCAN]; “Playing With The Narrative” by Cathleen Flynn [ASCAP] and Micah Barnes [BMI]; “Back From The Brink” by Daniel Gunnar Louis Trachtenberg [PRS]Watch this video on the James Webb Space Telescope YouTube channel. || Webb_Titan_Climate_Thumbnail_print.jpg (1024x576) [189.4 KB] || Webb_Titan_Climate_Thumbnail.jpg (1280x720) [872.3 KB] || Webb_Titan_Climate_Thumbnail.png (1280x720) [1.3 MB] || Webb_Titan_Climate_Thumbnail_searchweb.png (320x180) [88.6 KB] || Webb_Titan_Climate_Thumbnail_thm.png [6.7 KB] || 14843_Webb_Titan_Climate_720.mp4 (1280x720) [77.0 MB] || 14843_Webb_Titan_Climate_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [431.4 MB] || WebbTitanClimate.en_US.srt [7.3 KB] || WebbTitanClimate.en_US.vtt [6.9 KB] || 14843_Webb_Titan_Climate_4K.mp4 (3840x2160) [4.9 GB] || 14843_Webb_Titan_Climate_ProRes.mov (3840x2160) [29.0 GB] || ",
            "release_date": "2025-05-14T08:00:00-04:00",
            "update_date": "2025-05-13T19:37:57.647758-04:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 1155076,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014843/Webb_Titan_Climate_Thumbnail.jpg",
                "filename": "Webb_Titan_Climate_Thumbnail.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "NASA’s Webb Telescope has discovered a new molecule in Titan’s atmosphere – one that may have implications for the future of this surprisingly Earthlike world.Complete transcript available.Universal Production Music: “Barfuß Durch Die Stadt” by Edgar Möller [GEMA] and Lucia Wilke [GEMA]; “Into the Void” by Gage Boozan [ASCAP]; “Pulse of Progress” by Emma Zarobyan [SOCAN]; “Playing With The Narrative” by Cathleen Flynn [ASCAP] and Micah Barnes [BMI]; “Back From The Brink” by Daniel Gunnar Louis Trachtenberg [PRS]Watch this video on the James Webb Space Telescope YouTube channel.",
                "width": 1280,
                "height": 720,
                "pixels": 921600
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 13693,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13693/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "Ocean Worlds: The Search for Life",
            "description": "NASA scientists discuss the search for life on the ocean worlds of our solar system and beyond.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Universal Production Music: “Superluminal” by Lee Groves and Peter George Marett; “Earthrise,” “Prism Lights,” and “Uncertain Ahead” by Ben Niblett and Jon Cotton; “Infinite Sky” and “Human Architecture” by Andy Blythe and Marten Joustra; “Imagine If” by Paul WernerComplete transcript available. || 13693OceanWorldsThumbnail2_print.jpg (1024x576) [269.6 KB] || 13693OceanWorldsThumbnail2.jpg (1920x1080) [763.8 KB] || 13693OceanWorldsThumbnail2_searchweb.png (180x320) [88.2 KB] || 13693OceanWorldsThumbnail2_thm.png (80x40) [7.9 KB] || 13693_Ocean_Worlds_GSFC_YouTube.webm (1920x1080) [103.5 MB] || 13693OceanWorldsCaptionsV3.en_US.srt [19.9 KB] || 13693OceanWorldsCaptionsV3.en_US.vtt [19.0 KB] || 13693_Ocean_Worlds_GSFC_Facebook.mp4 (1920x1080) [1.1 GB] || 13693_Ocean_Worlds_GSFC_YouTube.mp4 (1920x1080) [2.9 GB] || 13693_Ocean_Worlds_GSFC_MASTER.mov (1920x1080) [11.8 GB] || ",
            "release_date": "2020-08-17T00:00:00-04:00",
            "update_date": "2024-01-31T18:57:24-05:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 383309,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013600/a013693/13693OceanWorldsThumbnail2.jpg",
                "filename": "13693OceanWorldsThumbnail2.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "NASA scientists discuss the search for life on the ocean worlds of our solar system and beyond.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Universal Production Music: “Superluminal” by Lee Groves and Peter George Marett; “Earthrise,” “Prism Lights,” and “Uncertain Ahead” by Ben Niblett and Jon Cotton; “Infinite Sky” and “Human Architecture” by Andy Blythe and Marten Joustra; “Imagine If” by Paul WernerComplete transcript available.",
                "width": 1920,
                "height": 1080,
                "pixels": 2073600
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 13562,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13562/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "The Science of Dragonfly",
            "description": "Dragonfly’s suite of science instruments will investigate the chemistry and habitability of Titan.Universal Production Music: “Clediss” by Thomas Stempfle and Tom Sue, “Downloading Landscapes” by Andrew Michael Britton and David Stephen GoldsmithWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || FACEBOOK_720_13562_Dragonfly_Science_MASTER_facebook_720.mp4 (1280x720) [145.8 MB] || DragonflySciencePreview_print.jpg (1024x576) [96.9 KB] || DragonflySciencePreview.jpg (3840x2160) [637.4 KB] || DragonflySciencePreview_searchweb.png (320x180) [72.4 KB] || DragonflySciencePreview_thm.png (80x40) [5.5 KB] || TWITTER_720_13562_Dragonfly_Science_MASTER_twitter_720.mp4 (1280x720) [27.2 MB] || 13562_Dragonfly_Science_MASTER.webm (960x540) [46.9 MB] || 13562_Dragonfly_Science_CAPTIONS.en_US.srt [3.4 KB] || 13562_Dragonfly_Science_CAPTIONS.en_US.vtt [3.4 KB] || 13562_Dragonfly_Science_YouTube.mp4 (3840x2160) [2.7 GB] || 13562_Dragonfly_Science_MASTER.mov (3840x2160) [16.6 GB] || ",
            "release_date": "2020-02-25T16:00:00-05:00",
            "update_date": "2026-01-06T13:24:01-05:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 386558,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013500/a013562/DragonflySciencePreview_print.jpg",
                "filename": "DragonflySciencePreview_print.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "Dragonfly’s suite of science instruments will investigate the chemistry and habitability of Titan.\r\rUniversal Production Music: “Clediss” by Thomas Stempfle and Tom Sue, “Downloading Landscapes” by Andrew Michael Britton and David Stephen Goldsmith\rWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.",
                "width": 1024,
                "height": 576,
                "pixels": 589824
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 20311,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20311/",
            "page_type": "Animation",
            "title": "Dragonfly Animation Resource Page",
            "description": "Dragonfly on Titan || DF_End_Pan_4K_Prores.00420_print.jpg (1024x576) [77.6 KB] || DF_End_Pan_H264_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [27.1 MB] || DF_End_Pan_4K_H264.mp4 (3840x2160) [15.4 MB] || DF_End_Pan_4K_Prores_PNG (3840x2160) [0 Item(s)] || DF_End_Pan_4K_Prores.webm (3840x2160) [7.0 MB] || DF_End_Pan_4K_Prores.mov (3840x2160) [1.7 GB] || ",
            "release_date": "2020-02-25T16:00:00-05:00",
            "update_date": "2020-02-25T15:59:11-05:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 386491,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020300/a020311/DF_Open_4K_Prores.00420_print.jpg",
                "filename": "DF_Open_4K_Prores.00420_print.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "PNG pulses, GRS detects radiation",
                "width": 1024,
                "height": 576,
                "pixels": 589824
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 12709,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12709/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "Cassini's Infrared Saturn",
            "description": "Since arriving at Saturn in 2004, Cassini has used its Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) to study the ringed planet and its moons in heat radiation. Complete transcript available.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Music provided by Killer Tracks: \"Particle Waves,\" \"Odyssey,\" \"Solaris,\" \"Expansive,\"\"Horizon Ahead,\" \"Ion Bridge,\" \"Outer Space\" || CassiniCIRSpreviewShort.jpg (1920x1080) [591.6 KB] || CassiniCIRSpreviewShort_searchweb.png (320x180) [125.9 KB] || CassiniCIRSpreviewShort_thm.png (80x40) [8.4 KB] || 12709_Cassini_CIRS_Short_TWTR.mp4 (1280x720) [102.0 MB] || WEBM-12709_Cassini_CIRS_Short_APR.webm (960x540) [191.9 MB] || 12709_Cassini_CIRS_Short_FB.mp4 (1280x720) [574.1 MB] || 12709_Cassini_CIRS_Short_YT_Output.en_US.srt [10.3 KB] || 12709_Cassini_CIRS_Short_YT_Output.en_US.vtt [10.3 KB] || 12709_Cassini_CIRS_Short_YT.mp4 (1920x1080) [1.2 GB] || 12709_Cassini_CIRS_Short_APR.mov (1920x1080) [6.0 GB] || 12709_Cassini_CIRS_Short_YT.hwshow [96 bytes] || ",
            "release_date": "2017-09-12T10:00:00-04:00",
            "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:47:22.815887-04:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 411293,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012709/CassiniCIRSpreviewShort.jpg",
                "filename": "CassiniCIRSpreviewShort.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "Since arriving at Saturn in 2004, Cassini has used its Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) to study the ringed planet and its moons in heat radiation. Complete transcript available.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Music provided by Killer Tracks: \"Particle Waves,\" \"Odyssey,\" \"Solaris,\" \"Expansive,\"\"Horizon Ahead,\" \"Ion Bridge,\" \"Outer Space\"",
                "width": 1920,
                "height": 1080,
                "pixels": 2073600
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 12467,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12467/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "A Titan Discovery",
            "description": "NASA scientist Maureen Palmer narrates this video about the definitive detection of acrylonitrile on Titan.Music Provided by Killer Tracks: \"A Look Ahead\" - Matthew St Laurent. || TitanPreview.jpg (3840x2160) [5.4 MB] || TitanPreview-2.jpg (3840x2160) [1.4 MB] || TitanPreview_searchweb.png (320x180) [64.3 KB] || TitanPreview_thm.png (80x40) [5.2 KB] || A_Titan_Discovery_-_twitter.mp4 (1280x720) [26.0 MB] || A_Titan_Discovery_-_facebook.mp4 (1280x720) [149.3 MB] || A_Titan_Discovery.en_US.srt [1.8 KB] || A_Titan_Discovery.en_US.vtt [1.8 KB] || A_Titan_Discovery_-_youtube4k.webm (3840x2160) [16.7 MB] || A_Titan_Discovery_-_youtube4k.mp4 (3840x2160) [458.3 MB] || A_Titan_Discovery_-_MASTER.mov (3840x2160) [6.2 GB] || ",
            "release_date": "2017-07-28T14:00:00-04:00",
            "update_date": "2025-01-06T14:30:57.877398-05:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 417528,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012400/a012467/TitanPreview_searchweb.png",
                "filename": "TitanPreview_searchweb.png",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "NASA scientist Maureen Palmer narrates this video about the definitive detection of acrylonitrile on Titan.Music Provided by Killer Tracks: \"A Look Ahead\" - Matthew St Laurent.",
                "width": 320,
                "height": 180,
                "pixels": 57600
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 11339,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11339/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "Propylene on Titan",
            "description": "With a thick atmosphere, clouds, a rain cycle and giant lakes, Saturn's large moon Titan is a surprisingly Earthlike place. But unlike on Earth, Titan's surface is far too cold for liquid water - instead, Titan's clouds, rain, and lakes consist of liquid hydrocarbons like methane and ethane (which exist as gases here on Earth). When these hydrocarbons evaporate and encounter ultraviolet radiation in Titan's upper atmosphere, some of the molecules are broken apart and reassembled into longer hydrocarbons like ethylene and propane.NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft first revealed the presence of several species of atmospheric hydrocarbons when it flew by Titan in 1980, but one molecule was curiously missing - propylene, the main ingredient in plastic number 5. Now, thanks to NASA's Cassini spacecraft, scientists have detected propylene on Titan for the first time, solving a long-standing mystery about the solar system's most Earthlike moon. || ",
            "release_date": "2013-09-30T12:00:00-04:00",
            "update_date": "2025-01-06T12:01:05.570789-05:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 462972,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011300/a011339/G2013-074_Propy_Titan_MASTER_youtube_hq00502_print.jpg",
                "filename": "G2013-074_Propy_Titan_MASTER_youtube_hq00502_print.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "NASA Planetary Scientist Conor Nixon explains his discovery of propylene on Titan, Saturn's largest moon.  Scientists have known about the presence of atmospheric hydrocarbons on Titan since Voyager 1 flew by in 1980, but one molecule, propylene, was curiously missing.  Now, thanks to new data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, propylene has been detected for the first time on Titan.For complete transcript, click here.Watch this video on the NASAexplorer YouTube channel.",
                "width": 1024,
                "height": 576,
                "pixels": 589824
            }
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "products": [
        {
            "id": 14951,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14951/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "Are Titan’s Lakes Teeming with Primitive Cells?",
            "description": "Titan’s hydrocarbon lakes could contain structures called vesicles that strongly resemble cell membranes on Earth. A recent study coauthored by NASA shows that rainfall might provide the energy needed for these vesicles to form.Complete transcript available.Universal Production Music: “Perpetual Resonance” by Lee John Gretton [PRS]Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel and Facebook. || Titan-Vesicles-Thumbnail-V3_print.jpg (1024x576) [112.3 KB] || Titan-Vesicles-Thumbnail-V3.jpg (1280x720) [362.4 KB] || Titan-Vesicles-Thumbnail-V3.png (1280x720) [734.2 KB] || Titan-Vesicles-Thumbnail-V3_searchweb.png (320x180) [62.2 KB] || Titan-Vesicles-Thumbnail-V3_thm.png (80x40) [6.0 KB] || 14951_Titan_Vesicles_Explainer_720.mp4 (1280x720) [39.0 MB] || 14951_Titan_Vesicles_Explainer_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [218.4 MB] || TitanVesiclesCaptions.en_US.srt [3.8 KB] || TitanVesiclesCaptions.en_US.vtt [3.6 KB] || 14951_Titan_Vesicles_Explainer_4K.mp4 (3840x2160) [1.3 GB] || 14951_Titan_Vesicles_Explainer_ProRes.mov (3840x2160) [8.0 GB] || ",
            "release_date": "2026-01-14T10:00:00-05:00",
            "update_date": "2026-01-23T11:52:55-05:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 1195663,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014951/Titan-Vesicles-Thumbnail-V3.jpg",
                "filename": "Titan-Vesicles-Thumbnail-V3.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "Titan’s hydrocarbon lakes could contain structures called vesicles that strongly resemble cell membranes on Earth. A recent study coauthored by NASA shows that rainfall might provide the energy needed for these vesicles to form.Complete transcript available.Universal Production Music: “Perpetual Resonance” by Lee John Gretton [PRS]Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel and Facebook.",
                "width": 1280,
                "height": 720,
                "pixels": 921600
            }
        }
    ],
    "newer_versions": [],
    "older_versions": [],
    "alternate_versions": []
}