A new study by University of Colorado Boulder and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Cassini mission scientists showed that the sixth-largest moon of Saturn, Enceladus, could have a warm subsurface ocean.

While talking to USA TODAY Network, Sean Hsu, the lead researcher from Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, said that the study showed that the moon has the ability to host alien life. The study was conducted after collecting tiny grains of rock. The grains were detected by the space agency’s Cassini spacecraft near Saturn.

According to Hsu, the grains of rock suggested that there could be hydrothermal activity occurring beneath the icy surface of Enceladus. He said the tiny grains likely formed from a chemical reaction between hot water and rock on the moon. As per Hsu, such kind of activities occur when the water is warm or has temperature equal to or more than 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hsu said the most surprising thing of the study is that the moon is a very small object in the solar system. Enceladus is much smaller than earth’s moon, and expected to be inactive, he added. The study has shown that moon still has activity and warm ocean.

He said, “There's still a gap of knowledge that is missing in our understanding as to how our solar system works and [this kind of research] will motivate people to think more and develop more technology”.

In a recent statement, NASA said that the study could help scientists in getting closer to the question whether or not earth is the only object in the universe that supports life. Astronaut John Grunsfeld said the study showed that Enceladus contains an ocean and remarkable geologic activity. It could also have environment, which supports life, Grunsfeld added.