NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has uncovered indigenous carbon dioxide on Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, opening up the possibility that this frigid water-covered world could provide a habitat for life.

Europa, slightly smaller than Earth’s moon, boasts an icy surface enveloping a saltwater ocean beneath.

The existence of liquid water makes Europa a captivating subject for scientific exploration, especially regarding the search for extraterrestrial life, Live Science reported.

However, until now, there was no conclusive evidence that the moon’s ocean contained the essential molecules for life, particularly carbon, which is a fundamental building block of life on Earth.

The recent discovery by JWST is particularly intriguing because the carbon dioxide appears to have originated within Europa itself, rather than being transported by a meteorite or asteroid.

Additionally, it was found in a geologically youthful region of the moon known as Tara Regio, suggesting that the gas may have been formed internally within the moon.

Written by staff