Titan may represent conditions that existed on Earth when life arose. One important difference is the extremely cold temperature on Titan. However, the known life cycle of stars predicts that, at some time in the far distant future, our sun will gradually expand. As that happens, Titan will heat up, and that may be sufficient for life to take hold there. Perhaps our descendants will be able to use Titan as a haven from the sun’s expansion.
Rubin Boxer Santa Barbara, Calif.
Log in
Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.