Jupiter's Europa has less oxygen than hoped

Scientists say this makes it less likely that Jupiter's moon harbors life

3D rendering of Jupiter's moon, Europa
Europa's oxygen is on the lower end, but "it's not totally prohibitive" for hosting life
(Image credit: Josh Bin / Shutterstock)

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.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

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.