Jupiter's Moon, Europa, May Harbor Life, As Its Hidden Ocean May Be Similar To Earth's

There is a salty ocean under the icy shell of Europa, Jupiter's moon, say scientists. A NASA team modelled its ability to produce hydrogen and oxygen without volcanic activity and then suggested that its briny interior may harbour the correct balance of chemicals for life.

"We're studying an alien ocean using methods developed to understand the movement of energy and nutrients in Earth's own systems," said Steve Vance, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and lead author of the study. "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's team believed that the interior of Europa is more like earth than thought. The interaction between rocks and Europa's ocean can create hydrogen through 'serpentinization', a process in which the ocean might penetrate as much as 15 miles into Europa.

As radiation from Jupiter splits water molecules on Europa's cold surface, the team also thinks that the oxidants are thrown into the ocean and then react with hydrogen.

"The oxidants from the ice are like the positive terminal of a battery, and the chemicals from the seafloor, called reductants, are like the negative terminal," said Kevin Hand, a planetary scientist at JPL and co-author of the study. "Whether or not life and biological processes complete the circuit is part of what motivates our exploration of Europa."

Io, Jupiter's other moon, is the most volcanically active body because of the heat generated due to the effects of Jupiter's gravity. Still, scientists believe that Europa harbours some volcanic activity as well as hydrothermal vents that enable the passage of hot water on the sea floor.

The findings were published in the May 17 issue of the Geophysical Research Letters.