Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, was first seen by Galileo in January 1610. For centuries, scientists have suspected that an ocean of liquid water lies beneath an outer ice shell. Recent evidence, gathered by multiple space agencies, points to a surprisingly warm layer beneath the ice that could melt the surface from below and cause the shell to crack and break apart. The image evokes memories of Antarctic ice shelves that weaken when heat penetrates from the ocean below, reshaping the landscape far from the sunlit world above.
Why does this matter for life beyond Earth? Liquid water is a fundamental ingredient for life as we know it, so any long-lasting body of water inside a world like Europa raises the possibility of habitats where chemistry could support living systems. If heat and chemical energy from Europa’s interior enable hydrothermal-like processes, microbial life might find a niche even under a frozen surface. Scientists stress that finding warm water does not prove life exists, but it strengthens the case for studying Europa more intensively. North American and European space agencies are advancing missions to investigate Europa and other icy moons around Jupiter, employing radar to map thickness, magnetometers to sense internal activity, and spectrometers to analyze surface and plume materials. Projects such as NASA’s Europa Clipper and the European Space Agency’s JUICE are at the forefront of these efforts, while discussions continue about how to sample and interpret material from beneath the ice.
Today, research teams across North America and Europe coordinate ambitious plans to reach Europa and its Jovian neighbors, with launches aimed in the mid-2020s and arrival windows anticipated later in the decade. The scientific agenda includes assessing the ice shell’s dimensions, detecting ocean-derived material in potential plumes, and characterizing the chemistry and energy sources that could sustain habitability. As radar, magnetometry, and spectroscopy data arrive, scientists refine models of Europa’s interior and climate, drawing closer to answering whether life could exist somewhere beyond Earth. While the question remains open, the work advances humanity’s understanding of planetary processes in our solar system and the exotic environments that might harbor life beyond our world.