Tag

Subsurface Ocean

All articles tagged with #subsurface ocean

Miranda's Hidden Ocean Reframes the Search for Life on Uranus' Moon
space8 days ago

Miranda's Hidden Ocean Reframes the Search for Life on Uranus' Moon

A Planetary Science Journal study reexamining Voyager 2 data suggests Miranda, a moon of Uranus, could have hosted a deep subsurface ocean (potentially ≥100 km) in the last 100–500 million years, with tidal heating possibly keeping liquid water inside. While conclusive evidence of life isn’t found, this makes Miranda a notable candidate in the broader search for extraterrestrial life and informs the Drake Equation’s life-fraction term.

Drifting surface ice could ferry life-supporting chemicals to Europa’s hidden ocean
space1 month ago

Drifting surface ice could ferry life-supporting chemicals to Europa’s hidden ocean

Washington State University researchers model lithospheric foundering on Jupiter’s moon Europa, showing that salt-rich surface ice can sink through the ice shell and transport oxidants formed by Jupiter’s radiation into the subsurface ocean in as little as 30,000 years, potentially delivering the ingredients needed for life and informing upcoming Europa Clipper investigations.

Scientists Investigate Spider-Like Feature on Europa Indicating Possible Subsurface Water
science2 months ago

Scientists Investigate Spider-Like Feature on Europa Indicating Possible Subsurface Water

Scientists have identified a large, spider-shaped surface feature on Jupiter's moon Europa, called Damhán Alla, which may indicate water erupting through the ice shell and suggest the presence of a subsurface ocean, making Europa a promising candidate for extraterrestrial life. The feature resembles Earth's lake stars and was first observed by NASA's Galileo mission, with further studies potentially revealing more about Europa's hidden water reservoirs.

Pluto's Hidden Ocean May Be Revealed by New Mission and Supervolcano Activity
science6 months ago

Pluto's Hidden Ocean May Be Revealed by New Mission and Supervolcano Activity

NASA's proposed Persephone mission aims to orbit Pluto for over three years to investigate its potential subsurface ocean, surface features, and atmosphere, building on insights from the 2015 New Horizons flyby. The mission faces challenges including high costs, long duration, and technological requirements, but could significantly advance understanding of Pluto's geology and its place in the Kuiper Belt.

James Webb Telescope Uncovers Chaos Beneath Europa's Ice
science7 months ago

James Webb Telescope Uncovers Chaos Beneath Europa's Ice

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.