Potential signs of life on Europa

Research Article
Open access

Potential signs of life on Europa

Feitong Zhang 1*
  • 1 Beijing Dehong International Chinese School    
  • *corresponding author Feitong.Zhang@dehong.cn
Published on 17 November 2023 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-8818/10/20230345
TNS Vol.10
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-83558-131-5
ISBN (Online): 978-1-83558-132-2

Abstract

This paper discusses the possibility of life on Europa, the moon of Jupiter by analyzing the biological components, energy source, and ocean environment on Europa. The biological components, especially amino acids, have great possibilities of forming or have already existed on Europa since its compositive elements are present and the environment on Europa is very similar to the primitive Earth. Energy sources are expected to come from the hydrothermal vents at the ocean bottom, which are formed by tidal forces and tidal heating. The hydrothermal vents are rich in chemicals and elements and have the possibility of forming lives in the future. The ocean environment is thought to be rich in oxygen, which comes from the planet Jupiter, it is first reflected on the surface of Europa, but later on, transported to the ocean through the ice layer and a lake in between. Furthermore, the freezing point of the ocean might be affected by the fact that it contains salt, but not by the fact that it has very low air pressure. To conclude, there is a great possibility that lives exist on Europa, but it cannot be 100% positive since no specific experiments have been done throughout the research, and there are so many uncertainties in space that have not been discovered yet.

Keywords:

Europa, amino acids, hydrothermal vents, hidden ocean

Zhang,F. (2023). Potential signs of life on Europa. Theoretical and Natural Science,10,209-215.
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References

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Cite this article

Zhang,F. (2023). Potential signs of life on Europa. Theoretical and Natural Science,10,209-215.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Mathematical Physics and Computational Simulation

ISBN：978-1-83558-131-5(Print) / 978-1-83558-132-2(Online)
Editor：Roman Bauer
Conference website: https://www.confmpcs.org/
Conference date: 12 August 2023
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.10
ISSN：2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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References

[1]. Chyba C F. and Phillips C B. 2001. Possible Ecosystems and the Search for Life on Europa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 98(3), 801–804.

[2]. Pappalardo R T, James W. Head, and Ronald G. 1999. "The Hidden Ocean of Europa." Scientific American 281 (4): 54–63.

[3]. Orgel L E. 1994. "The Origin of Life on the Earth." Scientific American 271 (4): 76–83.

[4]. Asmus E G. 2007. "Protein Structure." The American Biology Teacher 69 (1): 38–40.

[5]. SolStation, 2007. “Life on Europa?” http://solstation.com/life/eur-life.htm

[6]. Encyclopedia.com, 2019. "Near-Infrared Mapping Spectromete”. https://www.encyclopedia. com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/near-infrared-mapping-spectrometer

[7]. StudySmarter US, "Miller Urey Experiment: Definition & Results". https://www.study-smarter.us/explanations/biology/heredity/miller-urey-experiment/

[8]. Life Persona, 2023. "The Earth's Primal Atmosphere: Characteristics and Principal Components." https://www.lifepersona.com/the-earth-s-primal-atmosphere-characteristics-and-principal- components

[9]. Greicius T(NASA), 2017. "A New Test for Life on Other Planets." https://www.nasa.gov/ feature/jpl/a-new-test-for-life-on-other- planets/#:~:text=A%20simple%20chemistry%20me-thod%20could%20vastly%20enhance%20how,a%20mixture%20of%20organic%20molecules%20into%20its%20components

[10]. Voytek M A(NASA Astrobiology), 2023. “Life in the Extreme: Hydrothermal Vents”. https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/life-in-the-extreme-hydrothermal-vents/

[11]. SciTechDaily, 2020. "Where Did Life First Form on Earth? Complex NASA Hydrothermal Reactor Provides New Evidence". https://scitechdaily.com/where-did-life-first-form-on-earth- complex-nasa-hydrothermal-reactor-provides-new- evidence/#:~:text=Some%20scientists%-20think%20the%20story%20of%20life%20on,ancient%20undersea%20environments%20with%20a%20complex%20experimental%20setup

[12]. New Mexico State University, 2023. "Geographic Features of Europa Tidal Heating". Nmsu.edu. http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/candaceg/Europa/Tidal_Heating.html

[13]. Solar System Exploration: NASA Science, 2018. "Europa". https://solarsystem.nasa. gov/moons/jupiter-moons/europa/overview/

[14]. Wikipedia, 2022. "Tidal Heating”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_heating

[15]. McKay C P. 2014. "Requirements and Limits for Life in the Context of Exoplanets." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 111 (35): 12628–33.

[16]. TeachersCollegesj, 2022. "How Cold Is Europa at Night? ". https://teacherscollegesj.org/how-cold-is-europa-at-night/

[17]. Clegg B. 2019. "14 Amazing Facts about Tardigrades, the World's Toughest Animal." BBC Science Focus Magazine. BBC Science Focus Magazine.

[18]. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2019. "Tardigrade | Facts & Lifespan”. https://www.britannica.com/animal/tardigrade

[19]. Bradford A and Mindy W(live science), 2021. "Why Are Tardigrades Nearly Indestructible?". https://www.livescience.com/57985-tardigrade-facts.html

[20]. Gough E(inverse), 2022. "Oxygen May Be Sneaking into Europa's Oceans — Opening the Door for Alien Life”. https://www.inverse.com/science/does-europa-have- oxygen#:~:text= New%20research%20shows%20that%20the%20moon%20is%20pulling,neutral %20until%20NASA%20sends%20the%20Europa%20Clipper%20there.

[21]. Reimagining Education, 2022. "How Does Pressure Affect the Melting Point? - Reimagining Education”. https://reimaginingeducation.org/how-does-pressure-affect-the-melting-point/

[22]. William(phys.org), 2015. "Jupiter's Moon Europa”. https://phys.org/news/2015-09-jupiter-moon- europa.html

[23]. News.uchicago.edu, 2022. "The Origin of Life on Earth, Explained”. https://news. uchicago.edu/explainer/origin-life-earth-explained

[24]. Lowell R P. 2005. "Hydrothermal Systems on Europa." Geophysical Research Letters 32 (5).

[25]. Study.com, 2019. "Gravitational Force: Definition, Equation & Examples - Video & Lesson Transcrip”.https://study.com/academy/lesson/gravitational-force-definition-equation- examples.html

[26]. Physics LibreTexts, 2016. "13.7: Tidal Forces”. https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/ University_Physics/Book%3A_University_Physics_(OpenStax)/Book%3A_University_Physics_I_-_Mechanics_Sound_Oscillations_and_Waves_(OpenStax)/13%3A_Gravitation/ 13.07%3A_Tidal_Forces#:~:text=Figure%2013.7.2%3A%20The%20tidal %20force%20is%20the%20difference,diminish%20to%20zero%20as%20you%20approach%20E arth’s%20center.

[27]. Chempedia.info, 2019. "Seawater Freezing Point - Big Chemical Encyclopedia”. https://chempedia.info/info/freezing_point_seawater/#:~:text=The%20actual%20freezing%20poin tof%20seawater,is%20-%201.96%20°%20C.

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