In the images, the researchers have been able to distinguish a landscape with, among other things, mountains and ice volcanoes.
- They show that there is some form of geological process going on, says astrobiologist Kevin Peter Hand in The World of Science.
Theory: Ammonia and snow contributing factors
The red color seen in the images of Pluto is ammonia, which lowers the free system temperature of water.
The pictures also show a type of snow that consists of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and methane.
Scientists believe that the thick layer of snow can insulate the heat in Pluto's interior from the temperature at the surface and thus retain enough heat for the ice to melt.
Therefore, according to the researchers, it may be possible to find liquid water on Pluto, which in turn is a prerequisite for there to be life.
- No one had thought that Pluto was alive, but now it is possible and it is breathtaking, says planetary scientist Carly Howett.
Want to know more about Pluto? See "The world of science: Pluto - an ice ball with life?" in SVT2 on Monday 26 October at 20.00 or already now on SVT Play.