Science Daily: Europa’s ice may be feeding a hidden ocean that could support life Europa’s ice may be feeding a hidden ocean that could support life How could the ingredients necessary for life reach the ocean hidden beneath the ice of Europa, this moon of Jupiter? This question has been driving scientists for years, because without an efficient ... Europa is the fourth largest of Jupiter’s 95 moons.

Understanding the Context

It's the sixth-closest moon to the planet. Europa may be one of the most promising places in our solar system to find present-day environments suitable for some form of life beyond Earth. Scientists believe a saltwater ocean lies beneath its icy shell, holding twice as much water as Earth's global ocean. It also may have the chemical ...

Key Insights

Europa’s ocean is considered one of the most promising places in the solar system to look for life beyond Earth. Jupiter’s moon Europa has long looked like a frozen cue ball, its bright shell of ice hiding a global ocean that many astrobiologists see as one of the most promising places for life beyond Earth. New ... Europa’s subsurface ocean might be getting fed after all. Scientists found that salty, nutrient-rich surface ice can become heavy enough to break free and sink through Europa’s icy shell, delivering ...

Final Thoughts

Space.com: Sinking ice on Jupiter's moon Europa may be slowly feeding its ocean the ingredients for life "Most excitingly, this new idea addresses one of the longstanding habitability problems on Europa and is a good sign for the prospects of extraterrestrial life in its ocean." When you purchase through ...