Setback for hopes of life as Nasa says less oxygen on Jupiter moon than thought
New research suggests there’s less oxygen on the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa than thought. This could affect what if any life might be lurking in Europa’s underground ocean.
Lower oxygen levels on Europa
According to research published in Nature Astronomy, there are lower oxygen levels on Europa than previously thought. This discovery has implications for the potential habitability of Europa’s underground ocean.
While there may be little or no oxygen on the moon's surface, scientists speculate that microbes could still exist in the ocean located miles beneath Europa’s frozen crust. Nasa scientist Kevin Hand, who was not involved in the study, emphasized that it is uncertain what other forms of life might be present in this environment.
Contradictory findings
The recent study contradicts earlier telescope observations that suggested a higher concentration of oxygen in Europa’s ice. Further investigation is required to confirm these new findings. Researchers believe that the data collected by Nasa’s Juno spacecraft during a close flyby of Europa in 2022 provides more accurate measurements.
The US-European research team estimated that Europa’s surface produces between 13 and 39 pounds of oxygen every second. This is significantly lower compared to previous estimates, which speculated an oxygen production of up to 2,245 pounds per second. The researchers suggest that unless Europa’s oxygen production was much higher in the past, these new measurements indicate a narrower range of habitability.
Juno's significant role
The Juno spacecraft played a crucial role in obtaining data about Europa. During its close flyby, Juno collected information about Europa’s surroundings from a distance of just 219 miles. This marked the first time that a spacecraft directly observed the moon’s environment, allowing scientists to gain insights into its complex nature.
Lead author James Szalay of Princeton University expressed excitement about the discoveries made through Juno. He mentioned that although the range of habitability is narrower than previously assumed, there is still much to learn. It remains uncertain how much oxygen escapes into Europa's atmosphere, remains trapped in the ice, or reaches the subterranean sea.
