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Join host Beth Johnson for a fascinating episode of SETI Live, featuring planetary scientists Dr Georgina Miles and Dr Carly Howett from the University of Oxford. We’ll be unpacking their groundbreaking study showing that Enceladus — one of Saturn’s icy moons — may harbor a stable subsurface ocean capable of supporting life.
What we’ll cover:
- How the Cassini mission’s data revealed heat flow from Enceladus’ north pole, overturning previous assumptions that only the south pole was active.
- Why balancing energy input and loss is critical for a long-term liquid ocean — and hence, for life.
- The implications for astrobiology: Does a stable ocean make Enceladus one of the strongest places in our Solar System to look for life?
- What open questions remain: How long has the ocean existed? What chemistry lies beneath the ice? What future missions might uncover next?
Guests:
- Dr Georgina Miles – lead author of the study and visiting scientist at Oxford
- Dr Carly Howett – corresponding author of the study and planetary scientist at Oxford
For more info:
The study “Endogenic heat at Enceladus’ north pole” has just been published in Science Advances: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx4338
Official press release from the University of Oxford: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-11-10-saturn-s-icy-moon-may-host-stable-ocean-fit-life-new-study-finds
Why you’ll want to watch:
Whether you’re into space exploration, extraterrestrial life, or the weird wonders of icy worlds, this episode brings you direct from the edge of our Solar System to one of nature’s most compelling laboratories.
Have questions for our guests? Drop them in the comments — we’ll try to cover them during the Q&A segment at the end.
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