We Might Find Alien Life In 1,688 Days

Summary by Krater

This video examines why NASA is sending the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's moon Europa to search for signs of alien life, discussing Europa's intense radiation, subsurface saltwater ocean, and the mechanisms that could keep that ocean warm enough to support life.

From the video

Answers: Why are we searching for alien life on Europa?

• Europa Clipper mission
• Europa subsurface ocean
• Jupiter's magnetic field
• Radiation on Europa
• Hydrothermal vents on Europa
• Tidal flexing and heating

What it concludes

• Europa's magnetic field wobble indicates an electrically conductive layer, likely a subsurface saltwater ocean, only tens of kilometers deep.
• Bombardment by Jupiter's intense radiation turns sea salt brown and can generate food sources like formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide for subsurface life.
• Tidal flexing from orbital resonance with Io and Ganymede generates enough frictional heat to keep Europa's subsurface ocean liquid.
• Europa's ocean could have twice as much water as Earth and may have been active for 4 billion years.
• The Europa Clipper mission will perform 49 flybys while orbiting Jupiter from afar to avoid radiation damage.