Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.
Scientists hoping to find life in liquid water oceans beneath the frigid, icy shell of Jupiter's moon Europa may get a helping hand from a"cosmic snowball fight" this world once engaged in. has long been considered a prime solar system location to search for evidence of simple life — life as we know it, at least). That's because this 1,940-mile wideput together.
"That is what will help us understand how all kinds of processes happen on Europa," Johnson continued,"and help us understand the possibility of life."Scientists think life on Europa likely would be powered purely by chemical reactions, however, instead of the photosynthesis we see Earth-based plants and simple forms of Earth-based life partake in.
Johnson is well-versed in the study of colossal collisions planets may have experienced throughout the solar system's 4.5 billion-year history, and how these impacts have shaped the worlds. "By understanding the sizes and shapes of craters on Europa and reproducing their formation with numerical simulations," he continued,"we're able to infer information about how thick its ice shell is."
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