Is humanity the only life form in the universe? In the far corners of the cosmos, there might be life forms similar to ours, and we have never given up on exploration.
The fascination with extraterrestrial beings has inspired many to create science fiction novels, movies, and other works.
Scientists have been searching for planets with similarities to Earth, and recently, they discovered a planet with a surface containing "animal waste." Which planet in the solar system is this? It turns out to be Pluto, the dwarf planet in our solar system.
Now, based on the conditions of Pluto, is it possible for life to exist? If there is life, is it similar to humans? What other planets with potential for life have scientists discovered in the vast universe? With so much unknown in the cosmos, should we continue our relentless exploration?
Next, let's take a closer look at what it means for scientists to find a planet in our solar system with "animal waste."
The dwarf planet in the solar system—Pluto.
For many, Pluto is remembered as one of the nine planets. However, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union reclassified it as a dwarf planet.
Despite this, many people are not familiar with Pluto, so let's explore what kind of celestial body it is.
Pluto, designated as 134340, belongs to the Kuiper Belt and was discovered in 1930 by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. Not only is Pluto the first object in the Kuiper Belt discovered by humans, but it is also the second most massive and the largest volume dwarf planet known in the solar system.
While Pluto may seem large, it's essential to note that scientists estimated its mass to be less than 1% of Earth's mass in 1976. Its orbital path does not conform to the typical trajectory of planets, leading to its reclassification as a dwarf planet.
Pluto has an orbital period of 247.68 years, a rotational period of 6 days, 9 hours, and 17 minutes, and an orbital speed of 4.743 km/s. Being the farthest planet from the Sun, sunlight takes about 6 hours to reach Pluto, compared to the 8 minutes it takes to reach Earth. With a surface temperature of -229°C, Pluto is one of the coldest objects in the solar system, featuring diverse colors such as carbon black, deep orange, and white.
Despite being expelled from the list of nine planets in 2006, Pluto regained attention in 2019 when scientists found "animal waste" on its surface. The New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2015, explored Pluto, examining its atmosphere, temperature, surface topography, and more.
During the survey, scientists discovered a dense reddish-brown color on the surface, which they identified as ammonia—a key component in basic biochemical reactions and a byproduct of animal waste decomposition.
Ammonia on Pluto's surface exists in a mixture of nitrogen ice and water ice. This discovery is crucial because ammonia serves two purposes: first, its presence in animal excrement is a potential indicator of extraterrestrial life; second, it indicates the existence of ice volcanoes on Pluto, with ammonia being a substance produced during volcanic eruptions.
Based on the presence of ammonia, scientists speculate that there may be an ocean beneath Pluto's surface. If the ammonia on Pluto's surface is a result of biological activity, it suggests the presence of life forms—a significant discovery for human exploration. If the ammonia is not a product of biological activity, it could indicate the existence of ice volcanoes and an ocean within Pluto.
Oceans are the origin of life on Earth, and many celestial bodies like Pluto may have liquid water, potentially harboring concealed life forms. This represents a crucial breakthrough in the exploration of extraterrestrial life.
