'The discovery signals a potentially habitable environment in the ocean of Europa,' according to the Webb Space Telescope's website.
Signs that a building block of life is in Europa's ocean
Scientists had previously detected solid carbon dioxide on Europa's surface, but they weren't certain whether it might have come from off-moon sources, such as meteorites. The new research points to an answer — and to more questions. "On Earth, life likes chemical diversity — the more diversity, the better. We're carbon-based life. Understanding the chemistry of Europa's ocean will help us determine whether it's hostile to life as we know it, or if it might be a good place for life," Geronimo Villanueva, lead author of one ofabout the research, said as the findings were released. Villanueva is a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
On the icy crust of Jupiter's moon Europa, Webb has discovered carbon dioxide that likely originated in the liquid water ocean below. Understanding the chemistry of this ocean could help determine if it is a good place for life as we know it:
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