Europa, the sixth largest satellite of Jupiter, holds secrets about the existence of life beyond Earth. Discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610, this icy moon boasts a unique surface with cracks and lines, indicating dynamic geological processes. What makes Europa fascinating is its potential for hosting a vast subsurface ocean, which could contain twice as much water as all Earth’s oceans combined.
The ocean beneath the frozen exterior is kept liquid by tidal heating caused by Jupiter’s gravitational force, despite surface temperatures averaging -160°C. This environment is crucial for life to thrive, and scientists believe that hydrothermal vents on Europa’s ocean floor may create conditions similar to those found at the bottom of our oceans, supporting the origin of life.
However, not all conditions are favorable for organic chemistry. The surface is constantly bombarded by charged particles from Jupiter’s magnetosphere and ultraviolet radiation, breaking down organic molecules over time. This degradation makes it difficult to determine if any biosignatures exist naturally or could be indicative of life.
A recent study suggests that aromatic amino acids may not form naturally due to non-organic processes on Europa. The researchers propose using laser-induced ultraviolet fluorescence to detect these compounds in newly exposed ice, particularly in high-latitude regions. This technique could work even from an orbiting spacecraft and offers a promising method for detecting life beneath the surface.
The study also reveals that certain amino acids can survive in Europa’s surface ice for hundreds of years, especially in high-latitude regions, despite the harsh radiation environment. By studying this phenomenon, scientists have determined that these molecules could remain detectable in the top millimetre of ice. This discovery is an exciting development in the search for life beyond Earth and has significant implications for the study of organic chemistry and potential biosignatures on Europa.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/articles/is-europa-alive-a-laser-could-detect-biosignatures-from-space