New research continues to disapprove that Earth is the only planet that can support life. A study recently discovered that Europa, Jupiter's moon, may actually be habitable.
The new study opens the possibility of Jupiter's Europa catering life with the said moon's salty ocean. Scientists from NASA responsible for the study acknowledges that the moon Europa can produce key elements for life to exist: hydrogen and oxygen (via Mashable).
Applying the same methods used to study Earth's own composition, the NASA team are able to examine the ocean located on Jupiter's moon, Europa. By use of comparison, the scientists believe they will be able to determine if Jupiter's Europa can hold life like Earth can.
"The cycling of oxygen and hydrogen in Europa's ocean will be a major driver for Europa's ocean chemistry and any life there, just as it is on Earth," co-author of the new study, Steve Vance said in a statement as reported by Mashable.
On the course of their study, NASA scientists found out that Jupiter's moon, Europa, and Earth have the same chemical composition. For both Europa and Earth, oxygen is produced 10 times higher than both entities produce hydrogen. Another finding is that even without volcanic activity, hydrogen and oxygen production is possible, as the existence of Europa's ocean proves to everyone.
The scientists then examined the interaction of the seawater of Europa's ocean to the seafloor's rock. The new study revealed new minerals are produced and hydrogen is released when the water fills in small cracks of the seafloor.
Meanwhile, oxygen is produced when molecules at the surface of Europa are reached by Jupiter's radiation. This causes the splitting of water atoms and the return of some oxidants to the moon's ocean.
According to Space.com, Europa is one of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter. It was discovered by Galileo Galilei on January 1610 and has sparked the interest of scientists because of its frozen nature that makes the existence of an ocean possible. It is said that where water exists, there is life.
Still, there are many more aspects to be studied to confirm the possibility of life on Jupiter's moon, Europa. The NASA team have yet to find out if the seafloor of Europa's ocean can facilitate volcanic activity. By 2020, they are planning to send a spacecraft to Europa and study it more intensively.
Popular Mechanics lists down 23 places of the solar system said to have water that may accommodate extraterrestrial life. Some of it, including Europa, are namely Enceladus near Saturn that has caused watery eruptions; Ganymede, the largest moon which is said to have a salty and warm ocean, and the planet Mars that may have water in the form of aquifers.
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