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Its the question that has plagued scientists worldwide for years: is there life out there in space? And while we can’t necessarily confirm or deny at this time, a new study has revealed possible signs of alien life on one of Jupiter‘s icy moons.
The hunt for alien life in our solar system continues, as a new discovery has been made by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on the icy moon of Europa. Scientists have discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Jupiter’s moon, suggesting that an internal ocean exists beneath its frozen surface.
This ocean could be a potential habitat for extraterrestrial life, making Europa one of the most potentially habitable places in our solar system.
The JWST is able to identify chemicals such as carbon due to their infrared wavelengths which they emit. It has found evidence of both crystalline and amorphous carbon dioxide, though it remains unclear where this gas originated from.
Previous observations from the Hubble Space Telescope suggest salt deposits which are likely derived from an ocean below the icy surface. The concentration of carbon dioxide in this area further implies that it came up from within the ocean itself.
When considering habitability for other organisms beyond Earth, organic molecules are essential building blocks – particularly carbon dioxide. Other biosignatures consist of hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen among others which make up living things as we know them.
This discovery not only provides a clue about what may exist beneath the icy exterior but also adds to our understanding about potential habitats outside Earth suitable for extraterrestrial lifeforms.
The Clipper mission is set to launch by 2024 with plans to conduct further research on Europa while ESA sent its Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft into orbit around Jupiter last April with an expected arrival time in 2031.
In addition, JWST will continue recording observations of Jupiter and its moons while scientists await more findings about these fascinating worlds.
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