NASA: One of Jupiter's Moons May Be Habitable

Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, may possess the necessary chemical materials for the possibility of life. According to the website iVal (affiliated with the Independent newspaper), NASA has announced that a recent study shows the levels of hydrogen and oxygen present on the surface of this small moon are comparable to their combination on Earth. This means that the fundamental structures for life could exist there. The surface of Europa is covered in ice, and it is believed that beneath this icy surface lies a saltwater ocean. In this study conducted by one of NASA's laboratories, scientists examined the effect of the ocean's saltwater on the rocks on its surface to estimate the amount of chemicals present on this moon. In this phenomenon, which also occurs on Earth, saltwater seeps into rock crevices, and through the combination of salt and chemicals within the rocks, hydrogen is released. In this research, which contains complex formulas and is based on prior knowledge of Europa's surface, scientists attempted to estimate the amount of hydrogen present by studying the degree of rock fracturing and the formation of new rocks on this moon. However, to estimate the amount of oxygen, scientists studied the moon's surface. They found that radiation emitted from Jupiter causes the components of icy water molecules to separate, releasing the oxygen contained within. Scientists discovered that the amount of oxygen present on this moon is ten times that of hydrogen, which is nearly equivalent to the conditions on Earth. One of the most significant achievements of this new discovery is aiding scientists in better understanding this moon of Jupiter and its potential habitability. NASA is in the early stages of building a spacecraft to send to Europa, with hopes that it will pass close to this small moon in the mid-2020s and send high-quality images back to scientists.