ESA’s JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) mission has confirmed what scientists had long suspected: a vast liquid water ocean lies beneath Europa’s icy crust, approximately 100 kilometres deep. Radar data from the flyby suggest that this ocean may be in direct contact with a rocky seafloor — conditions on Earth that are associated with hydrothermal vents and rich, diverse ecosystems. This finding significantly strengthens Europa’s status as one of the most promising candidates in our solar system for harbouring extraterrestrial life.
About the Author
