Titan's Ocean Mystery: Ice and Slush Instead?

Scientists have presented new findings suggesting that Saturn's moon Titan might not possess a large underground ocean as previously assumed. Instead, researchers propose that Titan's interior could be composed of deep ice and slush layers, interspersed with pockets of liquid water. This environment, though different from a global ocean, still offers conditions where extraterrestrial life could potentially survive and thrive.

The revised theory stems from a new analysis of data collected years ago by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. By carefully processing observations, scientists detected a 15-hour delay between Saturn's gravitational tug and the resulting deformation of Titan's surface. This gap indicates a slushy interior rather than a liquid ocean, which would produce an immediate response.

These findings suggest that Titan's hydrosphere might be evolving towards complete freezing or that any ocean present has long since frozen. Computer models indicate these ice and water layers could extend hundreds of miles deep. NASA's upcoming Dragonfly mission, a rotorcraft scheduled to launch later this decade, is expected to provide further insights into Titan's internal composition.