Based on what we know about life on Earth, and the theory of a vast ocean under the ice of Europa, do you think there could be/is life on Europa?
Do you think there is life on Europa?
- Thread starter James Bond
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The gravitational tides between Jupiter and Europa give Europa a source of heat just like the relationship between our moon and Earth. It is theorized that this keeps the water in a liquid state. Nothing rules out life on Europa, in fact, it is a prime candidate for life. Supposedly the ocean there is about 100 kilometers deep.
ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT EUROPA
ATTEMPT NO LANDINGS THERE
ATTEMPT NO LANDINGS THERE
It may be a long time before NASA goes looking for life there.
Are there any sci-fi novels that have Europa as the home base of UFOs, with their exploration of Earth done mainly underwater in our oceans?
Are there any sci-fi novels that have Europa as the home base of UFOs, with their exploration of Earth done mainly underwater in our oceans?
If it is correct that Europa has a liquid subsurface ocean, then it would certainly be habitable for bacteria, given what we know about the adaptability of bacteria on Earth. However, habitability for bacteria doesn't necessarily mean that Europa possessed the correct conditions (whatever they may be) for prebiotic chemical evolution and abiogenesis in the first place. Nevertheless, I would consider that Europa is one of the most promising candidates for life in the solar system, and I really hope to see a mission into the Europan oceans (if they exist) before I die.
-MEC
-MEC
The basic elements of life are carried in coments, which are full of water ice. This is supposed to be how water gets where it does on planets and moons. If that is correct, those base elements to life should be there in the water on Europa. The water is also supposed to be salty. Along with internal heating this all makes for a excellent enviornment for life to arise there.
Well, having water and heat are certainly reasonable requirements, but we really don't know what is necessary for prebiotic evolution. If certain clay minerals are important templates for early biomolecules then Europa may be out of luck. If periodic drying and concentration by evaporation is important then Europa's no good. Perhaps the water on Europa is too salty, or not salty enough, etc. etc.
Despite all of the uncertainties over conditions, it's a tempting enough target to send a mission there. Whether we find life or not, the results will help us understand how common life may be in the universe (that elusive second data point!)
-MEC
Despite all of the uncertainties over conditions, it's a tempting enough target to send a mission there. Whether we find life or not, the results will help us understand how common life may be in the universe (that elusive second data point!)
-MEC
Do I think there's life on Europe? No...at least not any intelligent life. 
Oh...Europa!! I thought you said Europe, my bad.... Oh well, that's a different story, er, heavenly body.
Well maybe...what we need to do is to send a Russian ship there named the Leonov and send out this robotic thing with big clamp-looking arms and see if it shoots out some chlorophyll proto-plasma thingy at it, and then we'll know.
Oh...Europa!! I thought you said Europe, my bad.... Oh well, that's a different story, er, heavenly body.
Well maybe...what we need to do is to send a Russian ship there named the Leonov and send out this robotic thing with big clamp-looking arms and see if it shoots out some chlorophyll proto-plasma thingy at it, and then we'll know.
The later books of this series come close to qualifying.
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