Europa's similar to Greenland. Can it harbor life?
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Pocket of water
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New study shows similarities
Now a new study by Stanford University geophysicists has shown there are similarities between the so-called double ridges in Greenland and their larger versions found on Europa. In Greenland they were formed by the refreezing of liquid subsurface water. If it's a similar case in Europa, it could show copious amounts of liquid water - a key ingredient for life.
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Habitable by microbes?
Europa is often billed as one of the locales in our solar system that may be habitable, perhaps by microbes. This is due to a global saltwater ocean detected deep beneath its ice shell. Lots of water pockets closer to the surface could be another potential habitat for organisms.
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Smaller than our moon
Europa is 3,100 km in diameter. That's a bit smaller than our moon. Europa's ocean may contain double the water of those on Earth. On Earth, life first as microbes in water.
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Ideal conditions for life
Europa's potential water pockets are shallow. They are perhaps a kilometre below the surface. That would place them near chemicals vital for the formation of life.
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Europa Clipper
Scientists will have a better idea when NASA's robotic Europa Clipper sets off in 2024 to further investigate whether this moon possesses conditions suitable for life.