Are There Fish-Sized Aliens Living Under Europa’s Ice?

Recent research has reignited interest in the potential for life beneath the icy surface of Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. This moon is believed to harbor a global ocean that could be up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) deep, with no landmasses above it. A significant finding suggests that Europa’s ocean is receiving more than a hundred times the amount of oxygen previously estimated, which raises intriguing possibilities for supporting life beyond microscopic organisms.

According to study author Richard Greenberg from the University of Arizona, this oxygen influx could theoretically sustain around three million tons of fishlike creatures. Greenberg presented these findings at a recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences, emphasizing that while there is no definitive evidence of current life on Europa, the conditions are conducive to its existence.

Deep-sea molecular ecologist Timothy Shank from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution echoed this sentiment, stating, “I’d be shocked if no life existed on Europa,” highlighting the similarities between Europa’s seafloor and Earth’s deep-ocean hydrothermal vents, which are teeming with life.

However, recent studies have introduced some skepticism regarding the habitability of Europa’s ocean. Some scientists suggest that the moon’s seafloor may not be geologically active enough to support the necessary chemical reactions for sustaining life. A study published in March 2024 indicated that there might not be sufficient volcanic activity on the seafloor to create the conditions needed for active biology.

Despite these concerns, upcoming missions such as NASA’s Europa Clipper, scheduled for launch in October 2024, aim to explore these questions further. The spacecraft will conduct close flybys to analyze the moon’s ice shell and subsurface ocean, seeking signs of habitability and potential life.

In summary, while Europa presents an exciting possibility for extraterrestrial life due to its vast ocean and recent findings about oxygen levels, ongoing research continues to assess its geological activity and overall habitability.

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[1] https://earthsky.org/space/europa-ocean-moons-habitability-astrobiology/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_(moon)
[3] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03225-4
[4] https://europa.nasa.gov/why-europa/ingredients-for-life/
[5] https://theconversation.com/if-life-exists-on-jupiters-moon-europa-scientists-might-soon-be-able-to-detect-it-226656
[6] https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/assets/webgl/fallback/fallback_europa.jpg?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi7s7rSksqKAxUuL0QIHYBbLFEQ_B16BAgMEAI
[7] https://www.science.org/content/article/nasa-spacecraft-probe-possibility-life-europa-s-salty-ocean
[8] https://www.science.org/content/article/surprisingly-thick-ice-jupiter-s-moon-europa-complicates-hunt-life