Titan could host building blocks of alien cells

摘要

SATURN'S largest moon is looking more promising for life. For the first time, the building blocks of possible cell membranes have been detected in Titan's atmosphere - along with potential seeds of cell machinery these membranes could help grow. On Earth, cells are packets of mostly water surrounded by thin membranes made of lipids. Neither of these would fare well on Titan. It is far too cold for liquid water, with average surface temperatures of -149℃. And its seas are made of liquid methane, in which lipid membranes couldn't develop.