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Salt juice
Europa, the oceanic moon orbiting Jupiter that many hope to own an extraterrestrial life, could have a similar chemical composition in its salt-water oceans on Earth.
Previous studies had suggested that Europe's ocean water contained sulphate salt. But now, scientists who have taken a closer look at the Hubble Space Telescope think salt is sodium chloride, report New scientistjust like terrestrial sea salt.
This is a good sign in the search for a life from another world, because it suggests that Europe could be more hospitable than we thought.
Make the point
CalTech scientists behind the research, published Wednesday in the newspaper Progress of sciencethink Europa's oceans contain sodium chloride because of a yellowish hue on the surface of the moon. They suggest that the color comes from salt interacting with cosmic radiation.
"We have never really measured an ocean with mainly sulphates for salts," said project leader Samantha Trumbo New scientist. "If it's sodium chloride, it means it's more like the Earth. If you licked it, it would probably taste familiar and salty.
Robbery
It is not because the oceans of a distant moon are more welcoming than previously thought that life is hiding.
Europa seems to be a good place to find life, but it's in comparison to the rest of the universe as a whole cold and empty. In reality, no one has noticed any signs of life. It turns out that Europe has better conditions than most places examined by scientists.
READ MORE: The salty surface of Europa may indicate an ocean conducive to life[[[[New scientist]
More on Europa: A beautiful 20-year-old "new" discovery: Jupiter Moon's enormous liquid plumes
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