Ice Ice Maybe: Europa’s Subsurface Secrets | 396

It’s time to dive deep (literally) into the icy mysteries of Europa, Jupiter’s frozen moon that might just be the cosmic Atlantis. We’re cracking the ice on Europa’s potential subsurface ocean and asking the big questions: Are alien squids plotting to overthrow Earth? Could Europa’s ocean host life—or at least a killer alien shark movie? And how does radiation fit into all this? (Spoiler: It’s not great for suntans.)

We’ll explore the latest research, NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, and why some scientists think this moon could be the best bet for finding extraterrestrial life. Join us as we get salty about Europa’s briny waters, speculate wildly (because science), and discuss whether Europa’s icy surface is nature’s biggest “No Trespassing” sign this week on Hysteria 51!

Special thanks to this week’s research sources:

Videos

We Might Find Alien Life In 2305 Days - https://youtu.be/DJO_9auJhJQ?si=o6aAWhWjM6NYG1Ol

Extraterrestrial Cycloids - Why Are They on Europa? - https://youtu.be/j3LXPmiEB-w?si=INIE0N_c6mnTZ-kz

Europa Clipper: Exploring Jupiter's Ocean World -  https://youtu.be/j6zT4p2CvTQ?si=pyI2oJODY90p2qvE

Europa Report (2013) movie - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2051879/

Websites

Europa Clipper via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Clipper

Magnetosphere of Jupiter via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetosphere_of_Jupiter

Europa Clipper (2024) via Nasa.gov - https://science.nasa.gov/mission/europa-clipper/

Hand, K. P. & Carlson, R. W. (2015). Europa’s surface color suggests an ocean rich with sodium chloride. Geophysical research letters - https://gfd.whoi.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/04/hand_carlson2015grlNaCl.pdf

Dalton, J. B. et al. (2003). Near-Infrared Detection of Potential Evidence for Microscopic Organisms on Europa. Astrobiology - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8956147_Near-Infrared_Detection_of_Potential_Evidence_for_Microscopic_Organisms_on_Europa

Carr, M., Belton, M., Chapman, C. et al. (1998). Evidence for a subsurface ocean on Europa. Nature 391, 363–365 - https://www.nature.com/articles/34857

New Findings Support Prospect of Life on Jupiter’s Moon Europa (2024) via Nasa.gov - https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/jupiter/jupiter-moons/new-findings-support-prospect-of-life-on-jupiters-moon-europa/

Meitzler, R., Jun, I., Blase, R. et al. (2023). Investigating Europa’s Radiation Environment with the Europa Clipper Radiation Monitor. Space Sci Rev 219, 61 - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-023-01003-8

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