Our solar system was likely once home to life besides the one it hosts on Earth. NASA scientists have found evidence that the dwarf planet Ceres was once home to microbial life. The icy body is believed to be harbouring saltwater lakes and organic carbon molecules under its surface, as shown by previous research. Today, it lacks any nutrients that microbes can utilise for food. But around 2.5 and four billion years ago, radioactivity likely created warm water conditions, or a "buffet," on Ceres that were fit for microbes to thrive. This is the same as on Earth, where the oceans once held much higher concentrations of radioactive isotopes, enabling widespread radiolysis-driven chemistry. The buffet for microbes refers to the presence of Hydrogen, oxidants, organic precursors and stable chemical gradients. These ingredients can support certain metabolic processes in the absence of sunlight. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/stargazing-guide-once-in-multiple-lifetimes-comet-lemmon-is-hurtling-towards-earth-here-s-when-you-can-see-it-1755846815603">Once-in-MULTIPLE-lifetimes comet is hurtling towards Earth. Here's when you can see it</a>&nbsp;Ceres lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and is barren. NASA's Dawn mission discovered in 2018 that something seemed to be reflecting light off its surface. This was found to be salt that was left behind by the liquid that oozed out of its surface. This was a lightbulb moment as the presence of salt means a saltwater source was present somewhere on the dwarf planet. Ceres is hiding vast reservoirs of brine that are minus 63°C today, too cold to support any form of life. But, NASA simulations show that 500 million to two billion years after Ceres formed, radioactive minerals began to decay inside its rocky interior, which would have produced a steady supply of hot water. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/6-word-message-humans-should-send-interstellar-mothership-as-per-harvard-scientist-1755588175737">A message in Morse: Humans should reach out to interstellar 'mothership', scientist says</a>&nbsp;<h2>Hot water vents trigger life in oceans</h2>The temperatures of the water near the core would have exceeded 270°C, NASA said, which then moved upwards where it mixed with the cold water, creating a stream comprising dissolved minerals and gases. These are known as hot water vents and help microbes and other life forms sustain and thrive on Earth deep inside oceans. If it all transpired in the same way on Ceres as shown by the simulation, then it would have given birth to a type of microbe known as a chemotroph. It is energised by chemical reactions and was capable of surviving on this hot water.&nbsp;Lead researcher of the study, Sam Courville, a PhD candidate at Arizona State University, said, "On Earth, when hot water from deep underground mixes with the ocean, the result is often a buffet for microbes — a feast of chemical energy." He added that determining "whether Ceres’ ocean had an influx of hydrothermal fluid in the past" could have great implications. This discovery shows that is Ceres was capable of triggering life on its own, there could be other planets in the universe capable of a similar feat.&nbsp;

Ceres is the dwarf planet that orbits between Mars and Jupiter and is icy cold today. But 500 million to two billion years after it was born, conditions were ripe for life forms to thrive on Ceres. No sunlight was involved in the process.

Our solar system was likely once home to life besides the one it hosts on Earth. NASA scientists have found evidence that the dwarf planet Ceres was once home to microbial life. The icy body is believed to be harbouring saltwater lakes and organic carbon molecules under its surface, as shown by previous research. Today, it lacks any nutrients that microbes can utilise for food. But around 2.5 and four billion years ago, radioactivity likely created warm water conditions, or a "buffet," on Ceres that were fit for microbes to thrive. This is the same as on Earth, where the oceans once held much higher concentrations of radioactive isotopes, enabling widespread radiolysis-driven chemistry. The buffet for microbes refers to the presence of Hydrogen, oxidants, organic precursors and stable chemical gradients. These ingredients can support certain metabolic processes in the absence of sunlight. Also Read: Once-in-MULTIPLE-lifetimes comet is hurtling towards Earth. Here's when you can see it Ceres lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and is barren. NASA's Dawn mission discovered in 2018 that something seemed to be reflecting light off its surface. This was found to be salt that was left behind by the liquid that oozed out of its surface. This was a lightbulb moment as the presence of salt means a saltwater source was present somewhere on the dwarf planet. Ceres is hiding vast reservoirs of brine that are minus 63°C today, too cold to support any form of life. But, NASA simulations show that 500 million to two billion years after Ceres formed, radioactive minerals began to decay inside its rocky interior, which would have produced a steady supply of hot water. Also Read: A message in Morse: Humans should reach out to interstellar 'mothership', scientist says Hot water vents trigger life in oceans The temperatures of the water near the core would have exceeded 270°C, NASA said, which then moved upwards where it mixed with the cold water, creating a stream comprising dissolved minerals and gases. These are known as hot water vents and help microbes and other life forms sustain and thrive on Earth deep inside oceans. If it all transpired in the same way on Ceres as shown by the simulation, then it would have given birth to a type of microbe known as a chemotroph. It is energised by chemical reactions and was capable of surviving on this hot water. Lead researcher of the study, Sam Courville, a PhD candidate at Arizona State University, said, "On Earth, when hot water from deep underground mixes with the ocean, the result is often a buffet for microbes — a feast of chemical energy." He added that determining "whether Ceres’ ocean had an influx of hydrothermal fluid in the past" could have great implications. This discovery shows that is Ceres was capable of triggering life on its own, there could be other planets in the universe capable of a similar feat.

Ceres is the dwarf planet that orbits between Mars and Jupiter and is icy cold today. But 500 million to two billion years after it was born, conditions were ripe for life forms to thrive on Ceres. No sunlight was involved in the process.

Move aside Mars, Ceres was once hot and alive, and hosted life in our solar system

The asteroid belt that sits between Mars and Jupiter might be holding the building blocks of life, according to a new study. The dwarf planet Ceres in the region has a hidden ocean which harbours such ingredients, the research published in the journal Science Advances says.&nbsp;

Ceres is the largest object in our Solar System’s asteroid belt, and its icy surface hides several small underground water bodies containing salt water. But the most fascinating discovery has been made around one of its largest craters, the Ertunet Crater.&nbsp;

Maria Cristina De Sanctis, a planetary scientist at Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics, and her colleagues found the basics of life here.

Hundreds of square miles of area around this crater are covered with a layer of organic chemicals, also called aliphatics. Researchers suggest that the chemicals must have formed only in the past few million years or so. This is because aliphatic compounds cannot sustain the constant bombardment of radiation in deep space for a long time.&nbsp;

This has led them to conclude that these organic molecules formed in Ceres’s underground ocean within the last 10 million years or so.

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De Sanctis and her colleagues created the Ceres sediment in their lab using data from NASA’s Dawn mission which flew by the dwarf planet in 2012. They added aliphatic organics to the mix, the hydrocarbon found near the Ertunet Crater.&nbsp;

To get an estimate of how long they have been there, they struck the mixture with powerful ultraviolet radiation and fast-moving ions.

This so-called “space weathering” can break down organic molecules. Turns out, the aliphatic compounds could not hold on for long, and this made the researchers realise that the substance had not been on Ceres for long either.&nbsp;

There is an abundance of this type of hydrocarbon on its surface, and so the researchers believe it must have gotten there within the last 10 million years.

"The organic compounds found at the Ertunet Crater might have evolved over the life span of Ceres’s deep ocean, lasting at least a few hundred million years,” De Sanctis and her colleagues write in their recent paper.&nbsp;

Besides, simulations show that these organic molecules weren't delivered by any asteroid or comet and formed deep inside Ceres.

Ceres was once covered with a huge ocean of salt water beneath its crust, but today only pockets of it survive. Previous studies hint at the possibility that rock and salt water interacted with each other, releasing enough energy to create little pockets of habitability.

“This makes the region a preferred site for a future in situ or sample return mission to Ceres,” they write.&nbsp;

The asteroid belt that sits between Mars and Jupiter might be holding the building blocks of life, according to a new study. The dwarf planet Ceres in the region has a hidden ocean which harbours such ingredients, the research published in the journal Science Advances says.

The asteroid belt that sits between Mars and Jupiter might be holding the building blocks of life, according to a new study. The dwarf planet Ceres in the region has a hidden ocean which harbours such ingredients, the research published in the journal Science Advances says. Ceres is the largest object in our Solar System’s asteroid belt, and its icy surface hides several small underground water bodies containing salt water. But the most fascinating discovery has been made around one of its largest craters, the Ertunet Crater. Maria Cristina De Sanctis, a planetary scientist at Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics, and her colleagues found the basics of life here. Hundreds of square miles of area around this crater are covered with a layer of organic chemicals, also called aliphatics. Researchers suggest that the chemicals must have formed only in the past few million years or so. This is because aliphatic compounds cannot sustain the constant bombardment of radiation in deep space for a long time. This has led them to conclude that these organic molecules formed in Ceres’s underground ocean within the last 10 million years or so. Also Read: JWST spots unique exoplanet with inflated 'asymmetric' atmosphere De Sanctis and her colleagues created the Ceres sediment in their lab using data from NASA’s Dawn mission which flew by the dwarf planet in 2012. They added aliphatic organics to the mix, the hydrocarbon found near the Ertunet Crater. To get an estimate of how long they have been there, they struck the mixture with powerful ultraviolet radiation and fast-moving ions. This so-called “space weathering” can break down organic molecules. Turns out, the aliphatic compounds could not hold on for long, and this made the researchers realise that the substance had not been on Ceres for long either. There is an abundance of this type of hydrocarbon on its surface, and so the researchers believe it must have gotten there within the last 10 million years. "The organic compounds found at the Ertunet Crater might have evolved over the life span of Ceres’s deep ocean, lasting at least a few hundred million years,” De Sanctis and her colleagues write in their recent paper. Besides, simulations show that these organic molecules weren't delivered by any asteroid or comet and formed deep inside Ceres. Ceres was once covered with a huge ocean of salt water beneath its crust, but today only pockets of it survive. Previous studies hint at the possibility that rock and salt water interacted with each other, releasing enough energy to create little pockets of habitability. “This makes the region a preferred site for a future in situ or sample return mission to Ceres,” they write.

Ceres, largest object in asteroid belt, shows signs of habitability near Ertunet Crater

The origin of a dwarf planet living in our solar system was a subject of debate for several years among astronomers. They now seem to have settled it. Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, has widespread ammonium deposits, and till now experts believed that its frozen form led to the creation of Ceres. But, ammonium is only stable in the outer solar system, indicating that Ceres formed outside our solar system and was slowly sucked in.

New research has revealed that it is not true and Ceres was born in the asteroid belt itself.&nbsp;

You might recall Ceres from the TV show "Expanse", in which the so-called 'belters' are based on this dwarf planet. The show has humans colonising the asteroid belt to mine the space rocks.&nbsp;

Ceres has gained fame in the real world as well because of the doubts over its origin. It has a diameter of around 960 kilometres, is the biggest body between Mars and Jupiter in the belt and boasts an extremely complex and varied geology.

A research team led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen studied data from NASA's Dawn space probe and has found ammonium-rich deposits in the Consus crater. The discovery has shed new light on the birth of Ceres.

Dawn probe studied Ceres and noticed that it changed and evolved over many billions of years. It also found widespread ammonium deposits on the surface of Ceres. The team noted in the new study that it likely witnessed unique cryovolcanism until recently, which probably continued even today.&nbsp;

There are light-coloured, whitish salt deposits in several impact craters. The Consus crater has emerged as the main mystery point where the deposits could indicate ammonium-rich material that has reached the surface from the depths of the dwarf planet owing to volcanism on Ceres.

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Researchers say that a brine seeped to the surface from a liquid layer between the mantle and crust over many billions of years, leading to the deposits.

After studying images and measurement data from the Consus crater in extreme detail, the team found material that was yellowish. It now believes that the presence of ammonium does not necessarily indicate an origin in the outer solar system, and there is a high chance that Ceres formed where it is orbiting today.

<h2>Consus crater on Ceres</h2>

Consus crater, located in Ceres' southern hemisphere, has a diameter of around 64 kilometres. It has a circumferential crater wall that rises about 4.5 kilometres above the crater floor. It contains inside it another smaller crater covering an area of about 15 kilometres by eleven kilometres.

The surface of Ceres is covered with ammonium-rich minerals. Earlier studies showed that these minerals form only through contact with ammonium ice, outside our solar system. As it nears the sun, it evaporates quickly. Ceres was therefore believed to have formed at the edge of the solar system.

But now, by establishing a connection between ammonium and the salty brine from Ceres' interior, researchers say that Ceres could be native to the asteroid belt.

&nbsp;The research is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

The origin of a dwarf planet living in our solar system was a subject of debate for several years among astronomers. They now seem to have settled it. Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, has widespread ammonium deposits, and till now experts believed that its frozen form led to the creation of Ceres.

The origin of a dwarf planet living in our solar system was a subject of debate for several years among astronomers. They now seem to have settled it. Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, has widespread ammonium deposits, and till now experts believed that its frozen form led to the creation of Ceres. But, ammonium is only stable in the outer solar system, indicating that Ceres formed outside our solar system and was slowly sucked in. New research has revealed that it is not true and Ceres was born in the asteroid belt itself. You might recall Ceres from the TV show "Expanse", in which the so-called 'belters' are based on this dwarf planet. The show has humans colonising the asteroid belt to mine the space rocks. Ceres has gained fame in the real world as well because of the doubts over its origin. It has a diameter of around 960 kilometres, is the biggest body between Mars and Jupiter in the belt and boasts an extremely complex and varied geology. A research team led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen studied data from NASA's Dawn space probe and has found ammonium-rich deposits in the Consus crater. The discovery has shed new light on the birth of Ceres. Dawn probe studied Ceres and noticed that it changed and evolved over many billions of years. It also found widespread ammonium deposits on the surface of Ceres. The team noted in the new study that it likely witnessed unique cryovolcanism until recently, which probably continued even today. There are light-coloured, whitish salt deposits in several impact craters. The Consus crater has emerged as the main mystery point where the deposits could indicate ammonium-rich material that has reached the surface from the depths of the dwarf planet owing to volcanism on Ceres. Also Read: On planets with eternal day or night, how does alien life know when to sleep? Researchers say that a brine seeped to the surface from a liquid layer between the mantle and crust over many billions of years, leading to the deposits. After studying images and measurement data from the Consus crater in extreme detail, the team found material that was yellowish. It now believes that the presence of ammonium does not necessarily indicate an origin in the outer solar system, and there is a high chance that Ceres formed where it is orbiting today. Consus crater on Ceres Consus crater, located in Ceres' southern hemisphere, has a diameter of around 64 kilometres. It has a circumferential crater wall that rises about 4.5 kilometres above the crater floor. It contains inside it another smaller crater covering an area of about 15 kilometres by eleven kilometres. The surface of Ceres is covered with ammonium-rich minerals. Earlier studies showed that these minerals form only through contact with ammonium ice, outside our solar system. As it nears the sun, it evaporates quickly. Ceres was therefore believed to have formed at the edge of the solar system. But now, by establishing a connection between ammonium and the salty brine from Ceres' interior, researchers say that Ceres could be native to the asteroid belt. The research is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

Pop culture dwarf planet part of TV show likely originated in our solar system

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is an "ocean world" with a big reservoir of salty water under its frigid surface, scientists said in findings that raise interest in this dwarf planet as a possible outpost for life.

Research published on Monday based on data obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which flew as close as 22 miles (35 km) from the surface in 2018, provides a new understanding of Ceres, including evidence indicating it remains geologically active with cryovolcanism - volcanoes oozing icy material.

The findings confirm the presence of a subsurface reservoir of brine - salt-enriched water - remnants of a vast subsurface ocean that has been gradually freezing.

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"This elevates Ceres to 'ocean world' status, noting that this category does not require the ocean to be global," said planetary scientist and Dawn principal investigator Carol Raymond. "In the case of Ceres, we know the liquid reservoir is regional scale but we cannot tell for sure that it is global. However, what matters most is that there is liquid on a large scale."

Ceres has a diameter of about 590 miles (950 km). The scientists focused on the 57-mile-wide (92-km-wide) Occator Crater, formed by an impact about 22 million years ago in Ceres' northern hemisphere. It has two bright areas - salt crusts left by liquid that percolated up to the surface and evaporated.&nbsp;

The liquid, they concluded, originated in a brine reservoir hundreds of miles (km) wide lurking about 25 miles (40 km) below the surface, with the impact creating fractures allowing the salty water to escape.

The research was published in the journals Nature Astronomy, Nature Geoscience and Nature Communications.

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Other solar system bodies beyond Earth where subsurface oceans are known or appear to exist include Jupiter's moon Europa,&nbsp;Saturn's moon Enceladus, Neptune's moon Triton and the dwarf planet Pluto.&nbsp;

Water is considered a key ingredient for life. Scientists want to assess whether Ceres was ever habitable by microbial life.

"There is major interest at this stage," said planetary scientist Julie Castillo of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, "in quantifying the habitability potential of the deep brine reservoir, especially considering it is cold and getting quite rich in salts."

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is an "ocean world" with a big reservoir of salty water under its frigid surface, scientists said in findings that raise interest in this dwarf planet as a possible outpost for life.

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is an "ocean world" with a big reservoir of salty water under its frigid surface, scientists said in findings that raise interest in this dwarf planet as a possible outpost for life. Research published on Monday based on data obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which flew as close as 22 miles (35 km) from the surface in 2018, provides a new understanding of Ceres, including evidence indicating it remains geologically active with cryovolcanism - volcanoes oozing icy material. The findings confirm the presence of a subsurface reservoir of brine - salt-enriched water - remnants of a vast subsurface ocean that has been gradually freezing. Also read: In a rare event, astronomers discover Saturn-like planet orbiting small cool star "This elevates Ceres to 'ocean world' status, noting that this category does not require the ocean to be global," said planetary scientist and Dawn principal investigator Carol Raymond. "In the case of Ceres, we know the liquid reservoir is regional scale but we cannot tell for sure that it is global. However, what matters most is that there is liquid on a large scale." Ceres has a diameter of about 590 miles (950 km). The scientists focused on the 57-mile-wide (92-km-wide) Occator Crater, formed by an impact about 22 million years ago in Ceres' northern hemisphere. It has two bright areas - salt crusts left by liquid that percolated up to the surface and evaporated. The liquid, they concluded, originated in a brine reservoir hundreds of miles (km) wide lurking about 25 miles (40 km) below the surface, with the impact creating fractures allowing the salty water to escape. The research was published in the journals Nature Astronomy, Nature Geoscience and Nature Communications. Also read: NASA drops racially charged nicknames of celestial bodies Other solar system bodies beyond Earth where subsurface oceans are known or appear to exist include Jupiter's moon Europa, Saturn's moon Enceladus, Neptune's moon Triton and the dwarf planet Pluto. Water is considered a key ingredient for life. Scientists want to assess whether Ceres was ever habitable by microbial life. "There is major interest at this stage," said planetary scientist Julie Castillo of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, "in quantifying the habitability potential of the deep brine reservoir, especially considering it is cold and getting quite rich in salts."

Dwarf planet Ceres is an 'ocean world' with salty water deep underground

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