Astronomers Optimistic There Is Life on Jupiter’s Moon Bulan

Suara.com – One of Jupiter’s moon, Europe, which is the sixth largest moon in the solar system, stands to be the best place to look for life beyond Earth.

New research models show that Europa’s rocky mantle under thick ice and salty seas actually has temperatures hot enough for volcanic activity.

Reported from Science Alert, Monday (31/5/2021), these findings indicate the possibility of life on the seabed of Europa.

“Our findings provide additional evidence that the ocean beneath Europa’s surface may be a suitable environment for the emergence of life,” said Marie Behounkova, a geophysicist at Charles University.

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On Earth, although sunlight cannot penetrate the depths of the ocean, volcanic vents seep heat into the surrounding waters.

There, life is built on chemosynthesis, where bacteria harness energy in geochemistry rather than the energy of the Sun to produce food.

Experts already know that under the thick layer of ice, Europa has oceans and most likely salt is detected. This answers some of the conditions for chemosynthetic hydrothermal life as it is known.

However, experts have not been able to confirm whether Europa has volcanic activity beneath its seafloor, opening up to vents like it does on Earth.

Researchers may only find the answer when explorers such as NASA’s Europa Clipper and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission launch in 2024.

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