Original version

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

Science in Action

Science In Action

Factual: Science & Nature

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

The BBC brings you all the week's science news.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Science In Action: Enceladus: Could this moon harbour life?

Magazines & Reviews

The view looking toward the anti-Saturn hemisphere of Enceladus, 27 Nov 2016.

13/04/2017 GMT

Enceladus: Could this moon harbour life?

BBC World Service - Science In Action, Enceladus: Could this moon harbour life?

The Cassini spacecraft finds hydrogen on Saturn’s most famous moon

The Cassini spacecraft finds hydrogen on Saturn’s famous moon. Also, scientists use fish DNA to record their movements; how religious groups reconcile evolution and beliefs.

Hydrogen is a favourite food for some microorganisms, so finding it on one of Saturn’s moons, Enceladus, increases the potential for to it to have life. During its deepest-ever dive through the jets of water vapour and other materials bursting from cracks in the ice-covered surface of Enceladus, the Cassini spacecraft has detected enough hydrogen to sustain microbes much as it does in dark undersea environments on Earth.

And, while fish swim they shed DNA from their skin and faeces into the water. For the first time, scientists have been able to use this DNA to record fish moving through the rivers of New York. By doing this the scientists avoid the disturbance, and expense, of collecting fish from trawlers. Such ‘wildlife forensics’ is likely to spread to more and more corners of diversity surveying.

Lastly, we tackle one of the greatest disputes between science and religion – the theory of evolution. We explore how religious groups reconcile evolution with their beliefs and learn how the Muslim world is embracing – and rejecting – evolution depending on who holds political power.

Presenter: Adam Hart
Producer: Louisa Field

Image:  The view looking toward the anti-Saturn hemisphere of Enceladus, 27 Nov 2016.  Credit:  NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Science In Action

Enceladus: Could this moon harbour life?

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

About BBC World Service