Jupiter's Europa has less oxygen than hoped
Scientists say this makes it less likely that Jupiter's moon harbors life


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.
Who said what?
Europa's oxygen is "on the lower end of what we would expect," lead study author Jamey Szalay said to The New York Times. But "it's not totally prohibitive" for hosting life.
The commentary
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."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
NASA is scheduled to launch its Europa Clipper orbiter in October to gather more data from Jupiter's moon, and the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer is expected to arrive in Europa's neighborhood in 2031.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Some mainstream Democrats struggle with Zohran Mamdani's surprise win
TALKING POINT To embrace or not embrace? A party in transition grapples with a rising star ready to buck political norms and energize a new generation.
-
How to make music part of your vacation
Let the rhythm move you
-
What is credit card churning and why is it risky?
the explainer Churners frequently open new credit cards with the intent of earning a welcome bonus and accessing other perks
-
Scientists want to regrow human limbs. Salamanders could lead the way.
Under the radar Humans may already have the genetic mechanism necessary
-
New York plans first nuclear plant in 36 years
Speed Read The plant, to be constructed somewhere in upstate New York, will produce enough energy to power a million homes
-
A potentially mutating bat virus has some scientists worried about the next pandemic
Under the Radar One subgroup of bat merbecovirus has scientists concerned
-
The treasure trove of platinum on the moon
Under the radar This kind of bounty could lead to commercial exploitation
-
Possible dwarf planet found at edge of solar system
Under the radar The celestial body has an unusual orbit
-
Why Elon Musk's satellites are 'dropping like flies'
Under The Radar Fierce solar activity destroying Starlink satellites
-
Dehorning rhinos sharply cuts poaching, study finds
Speed Read The painless procedure may be an effective way to reduce the widespread poaching of rhinoceroses
-
Why is Nasa facing a crisis?
Today's Big Question Trump administration proposes 25% cut to national space agency's budget in 'extinction-level event'