Contact us | And if one of Jupiter's moons has an underground life?

A group of JPL researchers argues that even in areas most exposed to harmful radiation, traces of extraterrestrial life on the Europa moon can be rare in 20 centimeters deep. We know that this moon has an ocean below the surface and that she is an ideal candidate to find life outside the Earth. Since the moon is exposed to very large amounts of harmful radiation, a layer of resistant ice is essential to ensure resistance.

In this scenario, the plumes of the ocean water under the ice cover can be "Shoot" on microbes and other chemicals related to life in the space, as well as other related components. At about 10 centimeters deep, amino acids, key elements of protein existence, are more immune under a thick layer of ice after they've been "ejected" into the water. Space and modified by radiation. Thus, "even in the areas most affected by radiation, just scrape the surface to find materials that have not been destroyed," says Tom Nordheim, a researcher at JPL, cited by Popular Science . In 2022, NASA plans to launch Europa Clipper to this moon of Jupiter and plans are now in orbit and attempt to "scratch" the surface in search of these elements of life. This probe must be able to pierce the ground, even at a short distance, to search for traces. Given the amount of radiation on this moon, for now the robotic exploration is even the only possibility, leaving aside the departure of astronauts.