The near - infrared mapping spectrometer on NASA's Galileo spacecraft found evidence of the presence of molecules made of oxygen, carbon, sulfur, hydrogen, and nitrogen on Europa, and a hint of the presence of a class of complex organic compounds called tholins which may be driven by pre-biotic processes (more). (members.nova.org)
Methane gas wafting from Pluto's surface sticks to the frigid pole during the moon's decades - long winter; ultraviolet light from the sun then transforms the methane into reddish organic goop known as tholins. (sciencenews.org)
Based on early measurements taken by the New Horizons spacecraft, Grundy and many othersimmediately speculated that the red spot was made of tholins created by the transfer of Pluto's atmosphere to Charon. (scientificamerican.com)