Extraterrestrial life: revelations about Europa's ice

Scientists have always dreamed of discovering extraterrestrial life. A new study on Europa, Jupiter's icy moon, might bring humanity closer to this dream. Researchers from Purdue University have uncovered some secrets of Europa's ice layer structure, revealing crucial information to assess its potential to harbor life.


To examine Europa's structure, planetary physicists use principles similar to those employed in studying a snowball. By analyzing the texture and composition, they can deduce crucial information. Europa, a rocky moon with saltwater oceans covered by ice, is a promising target in the search for extraterrestrial life. The key lies in the thickness of its ice layer, a mystery unresolved until now.

Planetary science experts, including Brandon Johnson and Shigeru Wakita from Purdue University, recently announced that Europa's ice is at least 12 miles thick (20 kilometers). Their study, published in Science Advances, is based on the analysis of impact craters. The models used in this research reveal physical characteristics that formed these surface structures.

Studying impact craters is crucial for understanding the internal structure of planetary bodies. Craters are ubiquitous on solid surfaces. Numerical simulations allow researchers to deduce the thickness of Europa's ice by reproducing the formation of these craters.


The thickness of the ice is essential for evaluating internal processes and the possibility of life. It influences the exchanges of materials between the surface and the ocean, essential for understanding processes on Europa and the likelihood of finding life there.