On present-day Europa, the researchers expect water could reach as deep as 25 kilometers (15 miles) into the rocky interior, driving key chemical reactions throughout a deeper fraction of Europa’s seafloor. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
The ocean of Jupiter’s moon Europa could have the necessary balance of chemical energy for life, even if the moon lacks volcanic hydrothermal activity, finds a new study. Europa is strongly believed to hide a deep ocean of salty liquid water beneath its icy shell. The answer may hinge on whether Europa has environments where chemicals are matched in the right proportions to power biological processes. Life on Earth exploits such niches.
JPL scientists compared Europa’s potential for producing hydrogen and oxygen with that of Earth, through processe...
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