Evidence beneath the surface
Galileo measurements supplied important evidence for a salty ocean beneath Europa’s ice. Tidal interactions can provide heating, while the ocean, surface and rocky interior offer different chemical environments.
What researchers need to learn
Liquid water alone is insufficient to establish habitability. The availability of energy and appropriate chemistry must be assessed, as must the transport of material through the ice. No detection of organisms follows from the ocean evidence.
Connected knowledge
habitable zone
Explore connectionsRELATED TO · A subsurface ocean illustrates a potential environment beyond a surface-water criterion.
EstablishedSource trail
Report an evidence-backed correctionUse the Primary sources tab to inspect the original records, publication dates and provenance.