Scientists are suggesting a fresh source of fuel that could support alien life on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. This energy might come from radioactive elements leaking out of the icy rocks and into the moon’s ocean. This idea was shared during a recent meeting of the American Geophysical Union in New Orleans.
Experts believe that the rocks, not just the moon’s internal heat, may create conditions suitable for life. The upcoming NASA Europa Clipper mission, set to launch in 2024, will explore this theory when it arrives in the Jovian system in 2030.
Ngoc Tuan Truong, a planetary scientist at NASA, drew inspiration from unique habitats on Earth. On our planet, tiny organisms thrive deep in the ocean, relying on chemical reactions for energy instead of sunlight. This process, known as chemosynthesis, could also be at play on Europa.
Beneath its icy surface, Europa has a significant saltwater ocean, containing more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. This abundant water makes it a prime candidate for the search for extraterrestrial life.
What sets Europa apart from its neighboring moons, Ganymede and Callisto, is that its ocean likely interacts with warm rocks on the seafloor. As radioactive materials seep from these rocks, their decay could release heat, breaking water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen ions. Microbial life could then harness this energy, potentially supporting a diverse ecosystem.
For their study, Truong and his team examined three radioactive isotopes present in Europa’s ocean: Uranium-235, Uranium-238, and potassium. They calculated that the decay of these isotopes could produce enough ions to support an immense volume of life—about 1 septillion cells, which is equivalent to the biomass of around 1,000 blue whales.
Until now, scientists believed that Europa’s rocks generated enough heat to promote life. However, a recent study revealed that the moon’s icy crust is thicker than previously thought. This discovery casts doubt on the idea that internally generated heat could foster life. The concept of relying on radioactive elements provides a fresh perspective on how energy for life could be produced on this moon.
If this theory holds true, Europa might be closer to being a home for life than we ever imagined. The ongoing research is sure to spark discussions in both scientific and public circles as we await further discoveries from the Europa Clipper mission. For more on the exciting findings about extraterrestrial life, check out this NASA article.
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