Scientists have found that the molecular building blocks for life are “readily available” on Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus.

The 314-mile-wide moon has liquid water, hydrothermal activity, and the necessary chemical elements to potentially support extraterrestrial life.

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft previously detected tiny ice grains from cracks near Enceladus’ south pole containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus, though sulfur has not yet been observed.

Past studies analyzed older ice grains from Saturn’s E ring, leaving uncertainty about whether the compounds originated on Enceladus or were altered by space weathering, Live Science has reported.

New research published in Nature Astronomy has now confirmed organic molecules, possibly including nitrogen and oxygen, in fresh ice grains directly ejected from the moon.