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Oxygen in Europa's Ocean

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Department: 
Jupiter
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"Jupiter's moon Europa has a salty ocean, and scientists have long wondered if life could be found there. A new study finds that Europa also has enough oxygen to support an ocean teeming with life ."

Link: 

Jupiter Moon's Ice-Covered Ocean Is Rich in Oxygen

Source: 

SPACE.com Download time: May 27 2010 9:24 AM ET

There may be enough oxygen in the waters of Jupiter's moon Europa to support millions of tons worth of fish, according to a new study. And while nobody is suggesting there might actually be fish on Europa, this finding suggests the Jovian satellite could be capable of supporting the kinds of life familiar to us here on Earth, if only in microbial form.

Europa, which is roughly the size of Earth's moon, is enveloped by a global ocean about 100 miles deep (160 km), with an icy crust that may be only a few miles thick. From what we know of Earth, where there is water, there is a chance at life, so for many years scientists have speculated that this Jovian moon could support extraterrestrials.

As we learned more about Jupiter's effect on its moons, the possibility for life on Europa grew even more likely. Studies showed the moon could have enough oxygen to support the kind of life we are most familiar with on Earth.…

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