Jupiter’s Moon Europa May Have Ample Life Supporting Energy

Scientists have recently suggested that one of Jupiter's Galilean Moons, Europa, may be able to support life even if there is negligible or nil volcanic activity under the icy shell of the satellite. Researchers believe that beneath Europa's icy surface, there is a salty ocean of liquid water which could be habitable. The liquid pool could be life supporting if it has the right measures of elements, like the correct ratio of oxygen to hydrogen, as well as the necessary chemical building blocks to give energy for biological systems.

Now, a new research reportedly conducted by a team of scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California has suggested that such a scenario is actually true, and there is in fact enough energy on Europa, as it probably produces 10 times the oxygen as compared to its hydrogen, just like our planet. Such a ratio is possible, even without taking into account the status of the moon's volcanic processes.

According to the researching team, the hydrogen on Europa is produced when the ocean water reacts with the rocks on the satellite's crust. Over the ages, the Galilean moon has considerably cooled down and formed new cracks which expose more rock to the ocean water, thus creating more hydrogen. The oxygen on Europa meanwhile forms from the ice on its surface. The intense radiation from Jupiter, which is far more potent than anything experienced on our planet, breaks the water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen. Subsequently, the oxygen reacts with the other compounds present in the ocean water as well as the hydrogen. The oxidants get recycled into Europa's interiors, and then into its ocean as they sink.

Most planetary scientists believed until now that Europa would be volcanic-ally active due to the effect of Jupiter's gravity. For instance, another satellite of Jupiter, Lo is considered the most volcanic-ally active celestial body in our solar system, due to Jupiter's gravity and tidal effects that deform the crust and mantle of this moon, and in the process produces a massive amount of heat.

The experts are now speculating whether such a phenomena is possible for Europa too, but no one is absolutely sure. Scientists generally believe that Europa could support a biosphere akin to the life clusters found close to the hydro-thermal vents on our planet's ocean floor. However, what the new research does suggest is that volcanic activity is not necessary to churn chemicals through the ocean, and therefore not all together necessary for living things to survive.