The JWST found carbon dioxide on Europa's surface. It probably came from the subsurface ocean, bolstering the chance for life.
Most planets and moons in the Solar System are clearly dead and totally unsuitable for life. Earth is the only exception. But there are a few worlds where there are intriguing possibilities of life.
Life needs chemical diversity, and among that diversity, carbon is a necessity. The JWST detected abundant carbon dioxide in a specific location on Europa’s surface called Tara Regio, a region full of what’s calledFinding carbon dioxide on Europa’s surface doesn’t necessarily mean there’s carbon in the moon’s subsurface ocean, which is where it needs to be to bolster the possibility of life.
“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 whether it might be a good place for life,” said Geronimo Villanueva of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
“We now think that we have observational evidence that the carbon we see on Europa’s surface came from the ocean. That’s not a trivial thing. Carbon is a biologically essential element,” added Samantha Trumbo of Cornell University.
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