Why Europa Is Awesome

[Blog of Reason]

Discussion thread for the blog entry "Why Europa Is Awesome" by Th1sWasATriumph.

Permalink: http://blog.leagueofreason.org.uk/science/why-europa-is-awesome/

 

[DRMProd]

It may not be new, but you put it all in a simple, easy to grasp way. Much appreciated

 

[Cygnus]

One of the more interesting aspects of Europa that wasn't mentioned is that measurements of it's magnetic field indicate that it's liquid oceans contain salt, perhaps a requirement for the development of Earth-like life.

 

[Th1sWasATriumph]

DRM, you're too kind.

As for the salt water thing, you're absolutely right - but I didn't want to place too much stress on the water being completely similar to terran seawater. Life exists in extremely hostile (and benign) freshwater environments on earth as well.

 

[CupOfWater]

I can't wait for extraterestial life to be found!

 

[Brunks]

Well just because life can thrive on those extreme conditions doesn't mean it can be born there. Although if the core is hot and violent, and the outer shell frozen solid there must be a moderate spot in between.

lets say in the next fifty years we launch a mission to europa and we find a chemical rich ocean, but no life. Now if we can find/engineer a bacteria that can thrive on the conditions we find there should we "seed"europa? Maybe we can skip a few steps and introduce predatory bacteria or multicelluar organisms like sponges. We could "design"life, wouldn't that be cool?

 

[Th1sWasATriumph]

Well just because life can thrive on those extreme conditions doesn't mean it can be born there

Why not? The first living organisms on earth arose at a fairly inhospitable time. It's just the combining of chemicals over time, at the simplest level; heat is an excellent catalyst for chemical reactions.

 

[COMMUNIST FLISK]

heat is an excellent catalyst for chemical reactions.

it is also excellent for breaking up the covelant bonds between molecules and ionising some atoms

 

[aeroeng314]

What's really intriguing is the possibility of eutectic freezing. This may catalyze the formation of appropriate molecules (it's hypothesized that this may have happened on Earth). Europa's ice sheets are regularly fractured by tidal forces. These cracks then freeze over with liquid water.

 

[Th1sWasATriumph]

it is also excellent for breaking up the covelant bonds between molecules and ionising some atoms

Beyond a certain point, yes. There are always extremes in these scenarios.

 

[COMMUNIST FLISK]

so, what kind of adaptions would an organism need to survive the murky depths of europa?

 

[Th1sWasATriumph]

so, what kind of adaptions would an organism need to survive the murky depths of europa?

I don't think you could really call them adaptations, as organisms on Europa would have evolved within that particular environment as opposed to having to adapt from a much gentler environment. I'd say similar to deep-sea life observed on this planet, at the bottom of the challenger deep, around deep sea vents and in hot springs.

 

[COMMUNIST FLISK]

what about thier biology would be differant, if they are in seas of liquid ethane is it?

 

[Th1sWasATriumph]

what about thier biology would be differant, if they are in seas of liquid ethane is it?

Europa is more likely to have water. That's why it's a good candidate, it is similar to terran environments that harbour life.

 

[COMMUNIST FLISK]

are the chances good? surely if they have had time to evolve this long thier might be intelligent life down there?

 

[Th1sWasATriumph]

are the chances good? surely if they have had time to evolve this long thier might be intelligent life down there?

Not necessarily that intelligent. Deep sea life on earth isn't very intelligent. Whilst it'd be nice to find intelligent life, I don't view it as likely and I'd be just as excited by a single tiny bacteria.

 

[aeroeng314]

I don't view it as likely and I'd be just as excited by a single tiny bacteria.

I think I'd be most excited by life that is as primitive as possible. I want to see abiogenesis in the middle of things.

 

[Th1sWasATriumph]

I think I'd be most excited by life that is as primitive as possible. I want to see abiogenesis in the middle of things.

Just to shut those creatards up, eh? Nice.

 

[aeroeng314]

Just to shut those creatards up, eh? Nice.

Nothing will ever shut them up completely. Denial is pretty powerful. A sizable fraction of them may realize that they're being stupid, but it'll never fix all of them.

 

[Gimble]

Why not? The first living organisms on earth arose at a fairly inhospitable time. It's just the combining of chemicals over time, at the simplest level; heat is an excellent catalyst for chemical reactions.

Actually, I don't think we know that yet. How do we know that the molecules, proteins, or simplest of life did not arise elsewhere and crash here from, say, a comet?