Europa's Ice May Transport Life-Supporting Chemicals to Ocean

Scientists have discovered that Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, might have a way to send important chemicals to its hidden ocean.

Europa has a big ocean under its icy surface, but it doesn't have oxygen or sunlight like Earth.

This means any life there would need special chemicals for energy.

A new study shows that salty ice on Europa's surface might break off and slowly sink through the ice, taking these important chemicals to the ocean.

This process is like when parts of Earth's crust sink into the mantle.

NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which launched in 2024, will study Europa more closely when it arrives in 2030.

The study was published in a science journal on January 20.