NASA's Galileo Data Reveals Ammonia on Europa's Surface, Hints at Life Potential
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News18•30-01-2026, 16:15
NASA's Galileo Data Reveals Ammonia on Europa's Surface, Hints at Life Potential
- •NASA's re-analysis of Galileo mission data confirms the first discovery of ammonia-bearing compounds on Jupiter's moon Europa.
- •Ammonia, a nitrogen-bearing molecule, is crucial for life as we know it, making this finding significant for Europa's habitability.
- •The compounds were detected near fractures on Europa's frozen surface, suggesting they rose from a subsurface ocean or shallow subsurface via cryo-volcanism.
- •Ammonia acts as an antifreeze, lowering water's freezing point, and its short lifespan in space implies recent geological activity.
- •This discovery highlights the value of legacy space mission data and provides a key target for the upcoming Europa Clipper mission in 2030.
Why It Matters: Ammonia on Europa's surface, detected by re-analyzed Galileo data, boosts its potential for life.
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