The Lure of Europa

[ZeroGravitas]

The Lure of Europa - Featuring Bill Nye and special guests

Europa is a moon of Jupiter that may have three crucial ingredients for life: liquid water, energy, and nutrients. What, if anything, can be found in the great oceans of Europa? Could NASA look for life? How could we explore affordably? Bill Nye The Science Guy, eminent NASA scientists, and prominent legislators examined just these questions in a public event inside the halls of Congress. This was recorded live on July 15th, 2014.

Just watching this and thought some people here might be interested.

I think that while Europa is our best chance for finding life in the solar system, the most fascinating thing is that it raises the possibility of life well outside the 'habitable zone'.

Anyway, enjoy!

[vger]

The 'habitable zone' is a very near-sighted concept. If there's sufficient energy, then something might be able to harness it.

And I think most of us are very intrigued by Europa.

[lajoswinkler]

"Habitable zone" means regarding the surface conditions.

[WH40krules]

ALL THESE WORLDS

ARE YOURS EXCEPT

EUROPA

ATTEMPT NO

LANDING THERE

Well, maybe...

Edited August 9, 2014 by WH40krules

[Boomerang]

The 'habitable zone' is a very near-sighted concept. If there's sufficient energy, then something might be able to harness it.

And I think most of us are very intrigued by Europa.

I'll second this notion.

I still think that the ending of Europa Report did the idea of going there a disservice. It's a film and all, but they could have made the discovery of -simple- life the massive find that it would be.

[Motokid600]

I'll second this notion.

I still think that the ending of Europa Report did the idea of going there a disservice. It's a film and all, but they could have made the discovery of -simple- life the massive find that it would be.

Lmao Europa Report was a pretty good flick though despite its rough edges. But.. lets be honest a manned mission is obsurd... Maybe after a few or more robotic landings depending on what they discover. Because lets say that we DO discover something like in Europa Report. Complex life. Hell for all we know as soon as we turn on the microphone we'll hear whales. A Europian whale ( wouild that be right? lol.. ). Can you imainge? We'd most defiantly try and get humans there.

So yes, I LOVE Europa. Stare at it every night I set up my telescope. As far as a landing goes... there is one issue Europa Report did make me aware of. Tremors. Europaquakes. And.. with all that shifting ice I believe a landing would be somewhat hazardous. Or.. is it shifting? That movie depicted the ice WAY to thin so I im not so sure. The frequency of tremors is.. unknown.

Edited August 9, 2014 by Motokid600

[78stonewobble]

Lmao Europa Report was a pretty good flick though despite its rough edges. But.. lets be honest a manned mission is obsurd... Maybe after a few or more robotic landings depending on what they discover. Because lets say that we DO discover something like in Europa Report. Complex life. Hell for all we know as soon as we turn on the microphone we'll hear whales. A Europian whale ( wouild that be right? lol.. ). Can you imainge? We'd most defiantly try and get humans there.

So yes, I LOVE Europa. Stare at it every night I set up my telescope. As far as a landing goes... there is one issue Europa Report did make me aware of. Tremors. Europaquakes. And.. with all that shifting ice I believe a landing would be somewhat hazardous. Or.. is it shifting? That movie depicted the ice WAY to thin so I im not so sure. The frequency of tremors is.. unknown.

It would be some whale, if it can knock through the ice to "breath". ...

Something with gills seem more likely. Though obviously the biological use of soundwaves would allways be usefull. Would be a brilliant example of convergent evolution (it is that right?).

I agree though, europa seems the most likely place for current life elsewhere in the solarsystem and that makes it very very interesting.

I'm having some doubts about our ability to explore though. I mean supposedly the ocean can be up to 100 km deep, can we even build anything that can explore the bottom of such depths (like supposed vents at the seafloor)?

We've only had 4 dives to the mariana trench on earth and that's just circa 10,5 km.

[Motokid600]

Lol that true them mammals gotta breathe. But that brings me to my question. How thin can Europas ice be at certain areas? And would tremors pose an issue for a lander?