Quite possible, scientists say.
According to new research based on data collected from NASA’s Cassini Spacecraft, a primitive form of methane-based life may be consuming hydrogen on the moon of Saturn.
Scientists say hydrogen molecules are flowing down through Titan’s atmosphere, only to disappear on the planet’s surface. There’s also a distinct lack of acetylene on the moon’s surface.
One interpretation of the acetylene data is that the hydrocarbon is being consumed as food. According to researcher Chris McKay, the flow of hydrogen is even more critical because all of their proposed mechanisms involved the consumption of hydrogen.
“We suggested hydrogen consumption because it’s the obvious gas for life to consume on Titan, similar to the way we consume oxygen on Earth,” McKay said. “If these signs do turn out to be a sign of life, it would be doubly exciting because it would represent a second form of life independent from water-based life on Earth.”
At this point, methane-based lifeforms are strictly hypothetical, but there is evidence supporting their existence. Earth is home to several liquid-based lifeforms that thrive on methane or produce it as a wasteproduct.
Granted, there may be other chemical explanations, but no one knows for certain yet.