Why Europa Stayed Wet While Io Dried Out: Tracing the Early Lives of Jupiter’s Inner Moons
The paper examines why Io is dry while Europa is water-rich, testing whether both moons formed as ocean worlds and later evolved differently. Using thermal and atmospheric escape models, the authors find Europa easily retains its water, while Io cannot lose a large primordial water inventory. They conclude Io likely formed from dry material, and the moons’ differences reflect where they formed in Jupiter’s disk.
Fluorescent Amino Acids on Europa: A Search for Life in the Ice
Europa's icy surface may contain fluorescent amino acids, potential biosignatures of life from its subsurface ocean. Scientists modeled how radiation and UV light degrade these molecules, finding that high-latitude regions offer the best preservation. A future spacecraft using laser-induced fluorescence could detect these compounds, especially in recently resurfaced ice or potential plumes. NASA’s Europa Clipper mission may help confirm whether Europa harbors the building blocks of life.