NASA's Galileo Mission Uncovers Life-Friendly Molecules on Europa
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has revealed new findings from the Galileo mission, indicating the presence of ammonia-bearing compounds on Jupiter's moon Europa. The data, originally collected in 1997, was re-analyzed and showed faint signals of ammonia near cracks on Europa's icy surface. This discovery is significant as ammonia is a nitrogen-bearing molecule, essential for life as we know it. Europa, the fourth-largest moon of Jupiter, is believed to have a vast, salty ocean beneath its icy crust, making it a prime candidate for hosting extraterrestrial life. The ammonia may have originated from Europa's subsurface ocean or shallow subsurface, as it is quickly broken down by ultraviolet light and cosmic radiation.