Scientists and science fiction fans have long been interested in Jupiter's moon Europa, which many believe has oceans similar to Earth. Now a new study has revealed that Europa's oceans might be closer to Earth's waters than originally suspected.
Is There Life In Europa's Oceans?
Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have checked the chemical composition of Europa's oceans to compare with that of Earth's (via Gizmodo). The study found that oxygen production in Europa's oceans is more than hydrogen production. In fact, it is almost exactly 10 times, just like that of Earth's oceans. The staggering similarity has made the researchers conclude that Europa's oceans might actually be able to spawn life as effectively as Earth's waters.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Steve Vance, who is the lead author of the study, took note of the similarities. "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," Vance wrote in a statement.
But before everyone gets too excited and books a spaceship to Europa, it is best to remember that there is more research to be done. The scientists still need to determine how Europa's other elements like carbon and nitrogen interact with the moon's icy oceans. In addition to that, there's always that warning from HAL from "2010: Odyssey Two."
"All These Worlds Are Yours Except Europa"
Science fiction fans will be quick to remind everyone that HAL's message didn't seem very promising. The warning reached an even wider audience when Arthur C. Clarke's book was made into a film as a sequel to "2001: A Space Odyssey." Nevertheless, the possibility that there could be life somewhere else in outer space (specifically in Jupiter's moon) that could be similar to those found on Earth is still an exciting thought.
