All articles tagged with #geologic activity
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Europa's icy surface is dynamic and connected to a subsurface ocean, with evidence of geologic activity, chemical signatures like sodium chloride and CO2, and potential habitability, supporting the presence of a vast liquid ocean beneath its ice shell.
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Europa's icy surface is dynamic and geologically active, with evidence suggesting a subsurface ocean nearly 30 kilometers deep. The study highlights the presence of crystalline ice, sodium chloride, CO2, and hydrogen peroxide, indicating complex chemistry and ongoing geological processes that could support habitability. These findings support the hypothesis of a liquid ocean beneath Europa's ice shell, with upcoming NASA missions like Europa Clipper set to further explore this intriguing moon.
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected potential geological activity on the dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, suggesting the possibility of conditions conducive to supporting alien life. The presence of thermogenic methane in their atmospheres indicates ongoing or recent geological processes, challenging previous assumptions about the activity of dwarf planets. These findings raise the likelihood of life developing on these distant worlds and prompt the suggestion for future exploration missions to further assess their geological potential.
Scientists have discovered direct geological evidence of recent volcanic activity on Venus, making it only the third known body in the Solar System with active magma volcanoes. The discovery challenges the long-standing view that Venus is lifeless and geologically dead. The research was based on archival radar images taken by NASA's Magellan mission more than 30 years ago, which revealed a volcanic vent changing shape and increasing significantly in size in less than a year. Three new Venus missions are due to launch in the next decade, which are expected to provide sharper radar vision and more information about Venus' geologic activity.