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Life-Bearing Lake Possible On Icy Jupiter Moon

Posted by samzenpus on from the how's-the-fishing dept.

astroengine writes "New research shows the jumbled ice blocks crowning the surface of Jupiter's icy moon Europa are signs of large liquid lakes below, a key finding in the search for places where life might exist beyond Earth. Drawing from studies of underground volcanoes in Iceland and Antarctica, scientists ran computer models to see if the chaotic formations on Europa's surface could be explained by the same geologic processes seen on Earth. It turns out that not only could this be further evidence for a sub-surface ocean, but also a mechanism that mixes ice and water, circulating nutrients and energy to get from the frozen surface to the ocean below."

20 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS by martas · · Score: 5, Funny

    EXCEPT EUROPA. ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE

    slashdot filter doesn't get sci fi references... i am disappoint.

    --
    weinersmith
    1. Re:ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS by idontgno · · Score: 3, Funny

      CmdrTaco took his monolith with him. That's why slashfilter had context recognition fail.

      "My God, it's full of trolls!"

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  2. When? by Anon-Admin · · Score: 4, Funny

    When can we go ice fishing there? I would love to see what we catch.... Wonder if it tastes good?

    1. Re:When? by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Funny

      It tastes like burning.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  3. send a probe! by k6mfw · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A panel discussion at one of the SETI presentations, one of them said, "Go where the water is." and there's a lot more water on Europa than Mars. Though the ice is thick and radiation is intense, then there is streaming the data back to the surface from the robot submarine through all that water. But just imagine... direct observation of life forms. Most likely microbes, it would be exciting to see lots of fishes. Imagine all the posts on slashdot, those wanting to name the first fish, marine biologists having to constantly correct people's statements, on going jokes of "All These Worlds..." from the movie (incidently remember also in the movie 2010 is where the Chinese made a mad dash to this area before the Americans and Russians).

    --
    mfwright@batnet.com
    1. Re:send a probe! by Fluffeh · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Most likely microbes

      Even single celled organisms can be quite amazing right here on earth. These puppies were recently found in the depths of our oceans. I can't wait to see what life will come up with on another planet/moon with a totally different set of playing rules.

      I only meddle in biology, but what I have learned is that for each time you think that life can't get any stranger, you soon enough discover something that proves you wrong yet again.

      --
      Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
    2. Re:send a probe! by cyberchondriac · · Score: 2

      I can see the packaging already.. Gorton's Space Filets

      --

      Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
    3. Re:send a probe! by squidflakes · · Score: 2

      Will we be asked to trust the Gorton's Space Man?

    4. Re:send a probe! by Surt · · Score: 2

      Then evolution occurs.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  4. Re:Cool by dissy · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Wanted: Someone to travel in home-made rocket ship with me. This is not a joke. P.O.Box 322, Oakview CA. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before."

  5. If only we had a space program ... by perpenso · · Score: 4, Insightful

    All these worlds are yours except Europa. Attempt no landing there.

    If only we had a space program that would warrant such a warning.

    1. Re:If only we had a space program ... by Surt · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Mod parent +5, depressing.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    2. Re:If only we had a space program ... by paulmac84 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'll bite. Some of us like to push the boundaries of what is thought possible. Some of us would like to see for ourselves what it is like outside the Earth's gravity well. The space program has pushed forward our technology in too many ways to list here. Why shouldn't we continue to push forward those boundaries? No one denies that it isn't difficult or complex, but in trying to attempt the impossible we learn more about our world and the universe we inhabit. On one hand you argue that space is too big and our technology too small, and then you argue that we should root for life extension not because it is easy but because it is hard. Sounds to me that you make the same argument for life extension as you do for not having a space program. I also find it ironic that you quote JFK from a speech he gave about going to the moon.

      --
      One of the universal rules of happiness is always be wary of any helpful item that weighs less than its operating manual
    3. Re:If only we had a space program ... by jpapon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't know whether or not your predictions are correct, but as a scientist and engineer, I CAN say that I would never want to work with you. You may think spouting such vile nonsense is beneficial, but all it does is show how small-minded you are. Here's an idea, why don't we pursue both space exploration and the medical technology you mentioned. There's plenty of resources to do so... we could find ample funding for both if the "defense" budgets of the world were cut a few percent.

      --
      -- Let us endeavor so to live that when we pass even the undertaker shall be sorry. -- M. Twain
    4. Re:If only we had a space program ... by mark-t · · Score: 2

      What do you think is out there that's so important?

      Space. Elbow room. Infinite amounts of it.

      All the elements of the periodic table are on Earth too, you know

      Not necessarily... there may exist natural elements in other environments that are not found anywhere in this solar system. All we know is that for the elements we've discovered so far, there are no gaps. There may also be previously undiscovered isotopes of elements that we do know about.

      There's nothing out there that we don't have on Earth.

      This is provably false. Several previously unknown minerals were discovered on the moon, for instance.

      And don't give me this tired, feeble "because it's there" nonsense.

      It's only nonsense if you have no spirit of adventure. How sad for you.

      The limits of physics and our engineering are also "there".

      Citation please.

      I don't see anyone rooting for life extension, but we should choose to do it not because it is easy, but because it is hard.

      Kennedy said almost word-for-word the exact same thing about going to the moon in the sixties. I'm not sure if that was deliberate or not.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    5. Re:If only we had a space program ... by lgw · · Score: 5, Informative

      Hows that laboratory study of dark matter going, then? There's so much we don't understand - like 80% of the mass of the universe!

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    6. Re:If only we had a space program ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Mod parent -1, Back Seat Modder

    7. Re:If only we had a space program ... by mark-t · · Score: 2

      Earth is obviously where it's at. It has a massive carrying capacity for human life, and NOWHERE ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE HAS

      Prove that, please.

      Or do you mean nowhere else that we know of?

      Because those are two *VERY* different things.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  6. Re:It's life, Jim by Surt · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If but one in a billion planets has life, there is a LOT of life out there.

    --
    "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  7. Re:It's life, Jim by Ironhandx · · Score: 2

    Aye, if we happen to find two objects in this solar system that contain life then life is quite prolific everywhere.