Life on Europa?

The Hubble Telescope found more evidence of vast plumes of water bursting through the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa. What does this tell us about the potential for life on Europa?

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Previous Episode

New findings have increased the likelihood that there is a vast ocean lying under the surface of Europa. Jupiter's moon is emerging as one of the most likely places in our solar system to find life. Why do we think Europa is such a good bet for extra-terrestrial life? What would might that life look-like? And how soon will we be able to confirm this?

Written and hosted by Matt O’Dowd
Produced by Rusty Ward

Attributions:
Hydrothermal Vents:

Winter Flounder - Antifreeze Protein

Sky Whale:
Hypothetical advanced underwater life such as might exist in Europa's ocean.
Image: © Adolf Schaller

Comment Links:
Sandy Crotch

Daniel

David21686

[syntaxed]

This guy is one of the best science show hosts on the net.

[DerekMoore]

So if life is discovered, will they be called Europeans?

[morbid.]

It's so annoying when you hear "mission in 2030" or something like that.

[SpazzyMcGee]

These videos are so good. It's so informative, even for people who are already half way informed about the topics.

[jesse]

Hydrothermal vents are my favourite thing. They are so fascinating.

[johnmichaelchase]

I have been absolutely enthralled and intrigued by Europa and its possibilities of life since I was in grade school. I cannot wait for these discoveries to come.

[professordanfurmanek]

Retired Astronomy Professor. Outstanding!!! As well as extremely Provocative!!! Required viewing for all my students!!!

[postmachine]

i thumb up any space time video during the intro. the worst space time vid is still an incredibly awesome youtube vid

[clarence]

Eris Mourn and the Drifter seem to survive there well.

[javkhlanbaatarkhuu]

Just imagine, if there was no war mongers, the US could’ve spent trillions on space exploration missions.

[UnrealFusion]

I wonder how this ocean looks like, It has to be so god dam dark

[shadow_warlockgr]

Them darkness pyramids be crazy y'all!

[zacharyhizon]

This video was a combination of physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. Great!

[emessar]

At first I thought that 100 km deep water would be entirely too deep for modern submersibles. But actually (looking it up), Europa only has a gravity of .134 g's. Wouldn't that mean that the pressure is the equivalent of 13.4 km deep water on earth? Given that we have unmanned subs that have gone to a depth of 10.9 km, it seems like it would be close to doable.

[sdesytfcanon]

Question: I keep hearing about the gravitational tidal effect of Jupiter on Europa. How would that affect the weight of someone standing on the surface of Europa as the moon rotate? In others words, when Jupiter is right above our head, would we feel lighter as opposed as when we are completely on the other side? And if so by how much? Thanks, love the show. I'm still reeling from the double slit experiment and the quantum eraser!

[Quester]

Can't wait to find life under europa's crust. Between this mission and Musk's new colony on mars it's a very cool time to be alive

[sheepwshotguns]

"WHY AREN'T WE FUNDING THIS!?"
peter griffin
seriously america, fuck all your bombs and lets work with the world to find life under that ice before i die!

[GameHoardGame]

God damn the quality of these videos. I don't know how I went so long without seeing them. Anyone want to suggest some other quality channels for science stuff?

[PMW]

what would we call life forms living on Europa?
I'm pretty sure that "Europeans" is already taken.

[dhu]

0:47 Europa's South Pole is somehow Censored.