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Hydrocarbon Rain Swells Titan's Lakes

Posted by kdawson on from the singin'-in-the-methane dept.

Rob Carr writes "According to the Cassini team, 'Recent images of Titan from NASA's Cassini spacecraft affirm the presence of lakes of liquid hydrocarbons by capturing changes in the lakes brought on by rainfall.' The northern lakes are now larger following a period in which hydrocarbon clouds covered their skies. (The research was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.) This change adds to the evidence these areas are indeed hydrocarbon lakes. But this discovery raises several more questions: where is the methane in the atmosphere coming from, and how long can this complex hydrocarbon cycle on Titan go on? The new evidence emphasizes the need for another mission to Titan."

6 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. inb4... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    inb4 people suggesting that we transport hydrocarbons from Titan to use as fuels on earth.

  2. Another "planet" with resources... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...to wage war over. It'll happen.

  3. Now all we need... by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...is fossil oxygen in liquid form reachable by drilling.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  4. Obvious source of the methane... by jimbudncl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Uranus.

  5. Re:bad modding by Slur · · Score: 4, Funny

    It will probably be the element that enables FTL.

    Imagination?

    --
    -- thinkyhead software and media
  6. Re:Wouldn't it be crazy... by NeverVotedBush · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least we would never have to worry about being invaded. A flamethrower would be the ultimate weapon against them in our atmosphere.