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Jupiter’s icy moon Europa has long been considered one of the most promising candidates for extraterrestrial life.
Beneath its frozen surface lies a vast subsurface saltwater ocean, which scientists believe could contain the building blocks necessary for life. For years, Europa has been at the center of debates in the scientific community.
However, a recent study raises serious doubts. Researchers found that geological activity on Europa’s ocean floor is much less intense than expected, potentially limiting the energy sources needed to sustain life.
Life on Earth often depends on energy from geological activity, such as hydrothermal vents on the seafloor. On Europa, however, such activity appears to be very limited.
Scientists leading the study noted that the rocky ocean floor shows little fracturing and low volcanic activity, which weakens the chemical reactions and energy cycles essential for life. In other words, Europa’s deep ocean may not provide enough “energy” to support life forms similar to those on Earth.
Europa’s ice shell is estimated to be 19–25 kilometers thick, and the ocean beneath may be deeper than any on Earth.
However, depth alone is not enough; the presence of energy sources is critical. The study highlights that the lack of hydrothermal vents beneath the ice could make survival difficult even for microbial life.
Europa’s massive subsurface ocean has been known for years, but the presence of water alone is not enough.
The lack of sufficient energy could make it difficult for chemical cycles and food chains to develop. Experts warn that limited energy may not only make life harder to sustain but could also make the emergence of complex organisms nearly impossible.
The study also notes that oxygen and other chemical elements tend to accumulate near Europa’s surface, but their delivery to the ocean floor is limited. This poses a major challenge for life, as it restricts the availability of energy and nutrients where they are most needed.
Lead author Paul Byrne explained, “The lack of sufficient fracturing and geological activity on Europa’s ocean floor limits chemical reactions and energy production, which significantly hinders the conditions needed for life to form and persist”.
Byrne added that limited energy sources could prevent the formation of rich ecosystems like those around Earth’s hydrothermal vents.
While the likelihood of life may be lower than previously thought, scientists note that unknown energy sources in Europa’s depths could still exist.
NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, launched in 2024, is scheduled to arrive in orbit around the moon in 2031. The spacecraft will study Europa’s ice shell, subsurface ocean, and potential signs of life in detail.
Its instruments will measure ice thickness, ocean salinity, and chemical composition. These observations are expected to provide a clearer picture of Europa’s habitability.
The Clipper carries advanced radar and imaging systems that will map subsurface water channels and potential hydrothermal regions. These measurements could determine whether energy sources adequate to support life exist.
Despite the doubts, Europa remains a key target for planetary science and astrobiology.
The presence of water, potential organic compounds, and hidden energy sources beneath its ocean continue to make the moon intriguing.
Scientists emphasize that life does not necessarily need Earth-like conditions and that different ecosystems could survive with alternative energy sources. Research on Europa expands understanding not just of the possibility of life, but also of life’s potential diversity across the universe.
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