NASA scientists suggest that Ceres — the largest object in the asteroid belt — may have once harbored the right conditions for life. New models indicate the dwarf planet likely had a radioactive core billions of years ago, producing enough heat to maintain a hidden subsurface ocean. This ancient “power source” could have fueled the chemistry needed to spark alien life in its briny waters.
Ceres, about 600 miles (950 kilometers) wide, sits between Mars and Jupiter and is the only dwarf planet located in the inner solar system. Observations from NASA’s Dawn mission (2014–2018) revealed traces of water, salty minerals, and organic carbon on its icy surface — key ingredients for life. Scientists now believe “the dwarf planet Ceres may have once had a radioactive core, capable of providing the energy needed to kickstart life on the wee world.
