Are you thirsty? Can drink water from Saturn’s rings

Yes, it is possible – with a good ice peak and some extra precautions, of course. In fact, the rings are enough to moisturize the entire population of the Earth for over a million years.

The question looks like crazy, but was made to the astrophysicist Phil pleases During a podcast: “Can we even drink the rings of Saturn?” The answer surprised even more.

The planet, surrounded by one of the most emblematic rings systems of our solar system, is the only one that gives us a show Almost 275,000 km wide, consisting of extremely thin structures – about 10 meters thick at many points.

Despite its mass extension, the rings They are not solidexplains the science communicator in. Physicist James Clerk Maxwell in the nineteenth century showed that a solid structure would be unstable due to the different orbital speeds of its parts.

Yes: the rings are made of ice

In fact the rings are made up of individual particle billion, mostly a few centimeters – the ideal size of ice cubes.

The main composition of the rings is really: water ice. The fantastic, during his long 12-year holidays in Saturn’s orbit, proved him. The probe confirmed that some sections are composed almost entirely of pure water ice.

So we can only conclude: if melted and treated, this ice could theoretically be consumed by humans.

Because the “engagement” may not end in marriage

Calm. Water is not the only one to be present in the rings.

It is estimated that up to 1% of its mass is composed of contaminants – Tiny particles resulting from the impact of micrometeorites, with silicates (rock fragments), metals such as iron, and possibly other complex organic compounds.

O ferro “Although not dangerous in small quantities – it can affect the taste of water.” The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends less than 0.3 mg per liter of iron in drinking water to avoid metallic taste. Silicates and other solid particles can be filtered.

But the real reason for concern, explains the scientist, is the corganic As polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), present in various regions of the space. One of these, the Cianonaphatalinais considered potentially carcinogenic “Although you still don’t know if you’re really present in Saturn’s rings.”

CONCLUSION: It is necessary to analyze (much, much) better the samples of the hypnotist rings of Saturn.

The richest and less contaminated water regions are rings A and B; Already the rings C and D contain more impurities and should be avoided for those looking for a safer drink – or at least less radioactive, Plait says.

Beyond water, the rings may contain other gells, such as methane and carbon dioxide. Methane would evaporate by melting the ice, and CO₂ could even add some effervescence, such as a natural carbonated drink. However, other nearby sources, such as the cloistered moon, which expels cold water gels to the space forming the ring and have more risks due to the presence of Toxic ammonia.

In total, Saturn rings contain an estimated mass of 1.5 × 10¹⁹ kg. After discounting contaminants, this is equivalent to About 10 billion million (10^19) liters of drinking water – enough to moisturize the entire population of Earth for over a million years.

In the future, as spatial exploitation becomes more common, sources of water out of earth as it will be crucial.