Astronomers Point to Cosmic Object Capable of Sustaining Life

Astronomers Point to Cosmic Object Capable of Sustaining Life
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If aliens exist, why don’t we see them? This is an age-old rhetorical question, and at a first glance, it seems totally reasonable. But the distances between our planet and another cosmic object where alien life forms dwell could literally be of thousands or even millions of light-years.

Hopefully, the distance until the closest alien life forms to us is much shorter, and we have a decent chance for that matter.

Life in Europa’s ocean?

Europa is one of the 79 known moons of Jupiter, and it can also mean the jackpot for astronomers. The goal for many space agencies is to find life elsewhere in the Universe. Computer simulations of the reservoirs beneath the icy surface of Europa are showing that the interior ocean of Jupiter’s moon could be able to sustain life.

Furthermore, calculations done by scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) indicate that breakdown of minerals containing water could have formed the global ocean.

Lead researcher Dr Mohit Melwani Daswani, who is a geochemist and planetary scientist at JPL, declared:

“We believe that this ocean could be quite habitable for life.

“NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will launch in the next few years, and so our work aims to prepare for the mission, which will investigate Europa’s habitability.

“Our models lead us to think that the oceans in other moons, such as Europa’s neighbour Ganymede, and Saturn’s moon Titan, may also have formed by similar processes.”

Europa, Titan, and Mars seem like the only candidates when it comes to other cosmic objects within our solar system capable of sustaining life. But we shouldn’t expect to find there life forms capable of working with fast internet and flying saucers. Most likely, there could be only primitive life forms on those cosmic objects, if there is any life there.

While it’s also theoretically possible for us humans to be the only intelligent life forms in the Universe, the future of scientific exploration must include trying to extend our civilization beyond our own planet.


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I am a pop culture and social media expert. Aside from writing about the latest news health, I also enjoy pop culture and Yoga. I have BA in American Cultural Studies and currently enrolled in a Mass-Media MA program. I like to spend my spring breaks volunteering overseas.

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