Hunt for extraterrestrial life moves to Earth's back yard

From tentative evidence of habitable planets to the eyebrow-raising suggestion a comet might not be what it seems, the possibility of extraterrestrial life is tantalising.

- Nicola Davis Science correspondent

But experts say ET is more likely to be found if we search in our own back yard. The prospect was revitalised on Wednesday when scientists announced an increased likelihood that Saturn’s sixth largest moon was habitable. A study had found that Enceladus was spewing out a wider array of carbon-based substances than previously thought.

“I really like Enceladus because it has all the conditions that are at the same place at the time for life to evolve and to thrive,” said Dr Caroline Freissinet of the French National Centre for Scientific Research.