Mission seeking life on Jupiter ice moon ‘likely’ to be in vain
The Times••general
Key Points:
- A study published in Nature Communications questions the possibility of significant internal heat on Jupiter's moon Europa, which is necessary to support life in its subsurface ocean through volcanic or tectonic activity.
- Researchers from Washington University analyzed tidal forces from Jupiter's gravity and found they are insufficient to generate substantial frictional heat or drive active geological processes like those seen on other moons such as Io and Enceladus.
- The study suggests Europa's seafloor, located about 60 miles beneath the ice, likely lacks tectonic activity, active volcanoes, or hydrothermal vents, making it geologically quiet and less hospitable for life as we know it.
- Despite these findings, scientists remain optimistic about upcoming missions like NASA's Europa Cl
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