FAQt – Fast Questions and Answers

Where was the first place outside Earth where scientists detected phosphorus?

—

in

_x000D_Photo: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Where was the first place outside Earth where scientists detected phosphorus?

Scientists found traces of phosphorus in water plumes squirting through the ice crust of Enceladus, a tiny ocean-bearing moon that orbits Saturn. The discovery was announced in June 2023, based on 2008 data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. Enceladus has all six elements needed for life: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and, apparently, phosphorus in the form of phosphates. Enceladus also has a “>soda ocean”> beneath its icy surface, discovered in May 2023 by another team. The soda ocean is rich in sodium carbonate, which could help regulate the pH and alkalinity of the water and make it more suitable for life.

Extra questions & answers

  1. Who is Jessica Watkins?
  2. What was NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft’s primary mission?
  3. What’s NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope?
  4. Who are Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi?