Jupiter's Europa has less oxygen than hoped

Europa's oxygen is on the lower end, but "it's not totally prohibitive" for hosting life

(Image credit: Josh Bin / Shutterstock)

published 5 March 2024

What happened?

Jupiter's moon Europa, believed to have a salty ocean under its icy shell, has less oxygen on its surface than previously believed. This makes it less likely the planet harbors life, scientists said Monday in Nature Astronomy.

One theory is Europa's oxygen — formed when particles from space split frozen water molecules on the icy crust into hydrogen and oxygen — sinks down into the subterranean ocean, mixing with volcanic material to create a "chemical soup that may end up making life," University of Colorado planetary scientist Fran Bagenal told the Times. "We don't really know how much oxygen you need to make life," she added. "So the fact that it's lower than some earlier, wishful-thinking estimates is not such a problem."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.