Hot vents and Europa - life beyond Earth

brian · 04-18-2003, 03:33 PM

Here's an interesting concept - you have entire eco-systems running without any direct input from the sun. Instead, powered by sulphur compounds expurged from hot volcanic springs, these ecosystems exist across fault lines under the Pacific Ocean.

This has a direct impact on the search for life in our Solar System - not least upon Europa, which would be a prime candidate for any such extraterrestrial evolution in motion.

Here's some links:

Return to the 'Lost City of Atlantis'

Vent system found off New Zealand

"Lost City" expedition (support website for new exploration of such hot vents)

Magnetic fields blow vents cover

and of course, Europa itself:

Europa has raw materials for life

Bacterial explanation for Europa's rosy glow

'Shocking' discovery boosts chance of life on Europa

and the most latest report on the Europa topic:

Jupiter moon's 'elevator of life'

Talia · 04-20-2003, 11:35 AM

This is something I find exciting because it seemed obvious that life would be all around the planets. Now science is catching up to prove that it can be.

Blue · 04-21-2003, 11:27 AM

Is it not the case that the 'life' discussed here would not be possible if the Sun moved from its current relationship with our planets and satellites in the system? The fact is that the Sun is slowly altering its nature--- growing older --- daily and its 'flight-path'. When the sun no longer exists, will it be true to say that 'life' in all its possible forms will also cease to exist in this planetary system?
Therefore, all 'life forms' are dependent upon the sun.
???

foundationist · 04-22-2003, 10:08 AM

Actually, not necessarily. The idea of black smokers forming in the oceans of Europa presumes they would be fed by volcanic fault lines caused by the constant tidal tug of Jupiter on Europa's core itself.

In other words, sulphur based life forms would simply require a constant vulcanicity to feed the suphur-based eco-systems - and extreme tidal gravitational pulls are one way of achieving that - on Europa, at least.

IMHO, anyway.

Interesting point though.

Quahom1 · 01-17-2005, 06:31 PM

The Europeans just discovered liquid seas on the Saturnian moon called Titan. Though they are either Methenal, or Ethenal, they also found blocks of water ice sticking out of the ground. The the moon's atmosphere is more dense than Earth's.

Someone should send a probe to IO (one of Jupiter's moons), to punch a hole through the icy surface and see just how deep its liquid water oceans are, and what they consist of.

v/r

Q

I, Brian · 01-21-2005, 06:16 PM

You mean Europa, yes? Io is one big lava flow...

There's a project in the works for the moons of Jupiter - I'm afraid I forget the name, though.

Quahom1 · 01-21-2005, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I, Brian

You mean Europa, yes? Io is one big lava flow...

There's a project in the works for the moons of Jupiter - I'm afraid I forget the name, though.

Brian,

You know sometimes I don't remember Europa from Io hole in the ground...

I, Brian · 01-22-2005, 10:00 PM

Just don't let JPL put you in charge of the mission, then.

Quahom1 · 01-22-2005, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Just don't let JPL put you in charge of the mission, then.

I know, I'd probably program miles while thinking kilometers...talk about overshooting the target...

You know, I actually got away with that once, while driving through Canada. I saw the speed post read 100, so I was doing 75 when I was pulled over by Ontario Provencials. I told the officer there was no way I'd try to do a hundred miles an hour, so I thought 75mph was more prudent.

He said, "that's 100 kilometers per hour" (you moron).

Oh, I guess I was doing 12.5 over, huh? Or about 26kph over...

"Get out of here..."

Yes sir.

v/r

Q