Umkhathi ku-Titan ufana nomkhathi oseMhlabeni
Umkhathi womhlaba wake wagcwala ama-hydrocarbon, ikakhulukazi i-methane, esikhundleni se-nitrogen nomoya-mpilo. Ngokusho kososayensi abavela eNyuvesi yaseNgilandi eNewcastle, uMhlaba ungabheka kumbukeli ongaphandle ocatshangelwayo ncamashi ngendlela i-Titan ebukeka ngayo namuhla, i.e. okuphuzi okuphaphathekile.
Lokhu kwaqala ukushintsha eminyakeni engaba yizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-2,4 edlule ngenxa ye i-photosynthesis kuma-microorganisms akhula emhlabeni. Kungaleso sikhathi lapho ukunqwabelana komkhiqizo we-photosynthesis, umoya-mpilo, kwaqala khona emkhathini wethu. Ososayensi baseBrithani baze bachaze izehlakalo ezenzeka lapho ngokuthi "i-oxygenation enkulu". Lokhu kwaqhubeka cishe iminyaka eyizigidi eziyi-150, okwathi ngemva kwalokho inkungu ye-methane yashabalala futhi uMhlaba waqala ukubukeka sengathi siyawazi manje.
Ososayensi bachaza lezi zenzakalo ngokusekelwe ekuhlaziyeni kwenhlabathi yasolwandle ogwini lwaseNingizimu Afrika. Nokho, abakwazi ukuchaza ukuthi kungani kwaqala ngaleso sikhathi. ukugcwala okujulile komhlaba nge-oxygennakuba amagciwane e-photosynthetic ayekhona emhlabeni wethu emakhulwini amaningi ezigidi zeminyaka edlule.
