Life on Pluto? MacKinnon says 'No'

Is there life on Pluto?

Some scientists think it could happen.

Recent research into Pluto reveals there is a subsurface ocean beneath the planet's "sputnick planitia." The planet is very cold so the life that is suspected there would not be like that of human beings. But, there might just be life there.

William MacKinnon is a professor of earth and planetary sciences at the Washington University, in St. Louis. In an article he published in Nature, he discussed Pluto's subsurface ocean, which he believes is filled with ammonia, which is highly toxic to life.

In his article, MacKinnon said: "Life can tolerate a lot of stuff: It can tolerate a lot of salt, extreme cold, extreme heat, etc. But I don't think it can tolerate the amount of ammonia Pluto needs to prevent its ocean from freezing."

MacKinnon, who has authored two books about Pluto, said, "What I think is down there in the ocean is rather noxious, very cold, salty and very ammonia-rich -- almost a syrup. It's no place for germs, much less fish or squid, or any life as we know it."

Pluto Grows More Mysterious | Space News

By JIM PURCELL

NASA's New Horizons mission to the dwarf planet Pluto has provided scientific mysteries recently that were entirely unexpected.

Clyde W. Tombaugh

The video has some important new evidence with it. But, for those who are not familiar with Pluto, here is some background.

Pluto was discovered on Feb. 18, 1930 by astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh. It is a dwarf planet with temperatures as low as -229 degrees Celsius. Upon its discovery, Pluto was considered the ninth planet from the Sun. After 1992, however, its "planethood" was questioned by the International Astronomical Union, as the definition of what the IAU believes is a planet excludes Pluto.

As a result of the IAU ruling, Pluto is now in the "dwarf planet" category.

Pluto has five moons: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.