Europa's Acid Ice Fields

Posted by Hemos on Monday February 16, 2004 @04:49AM from the melt-your-skin dept.

tr0llb4rt0 writes "The New Scientist reports on recent observations that suggest the ice on Jupiter's moon Europa may be highly acid with a pH of near zero, and have a surface layer of hydrogen peroxide. Two theories have been put forward. One says that the acid has been formed at the surface layer from oceanic salts reacting with the intense radiation from Jupiter, the other that sulphuric acid is coming directly from the ocean, with the water reacting with sulphur produced from undersea volcanos. Wilst reducing the chances of life on Europa, it is not ruling it out completely, as there are terrestrial extremophile bacteria which thrive in highly acid environments."

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Alternative life forms by Mick+Ohrberg · 2004-02-16 04:53 · Score: 5, Insightful

Wilst reducing the chances of life on Europa, it is not ruling it out completely, as there are terrestrial extremophile bacteria which thrive in highly acid environments.
Key word being terrestrial. What about life forms based on silicon and sulphur (as opposed to carbon and oxygen). The theories are there, and I think we have merely begun to scratch the surface of what different kinds of 'life' may be out there.

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Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
Rocket Fuel? by Short+Circuit · 2004-02-16 05:02 · Score: 5, Insightful

Isn't hydrogen peroxide a rocket fuel?

*hm....*

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