THE cracks in Europa’s icy crust are where life is most likely to be found on
the Jovian moon, the conference heard last week.
This means it might be possible to find life without having to drill down to
the ocean far beneath the ice. It also means that any terrestrial stowaways on a
space probe could easily contaminate Europa.
The cracks would provide an ideal home for life, says Richard Greenberg of
the University of Arizona in Tucson. Tides caused by Jupiter’s strong
gravitational pull make warm water flow up and down the cracks, creating a rich
chemistry along…
