Underground Oceans Discovered on Uranus' Moons

Four of Uranus' largest moons, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon, may have underground oceans warm enough to potentially support life, according to a recent study. The researchers integrated data from Voyager 2 and other NASA missions to suggest that these moons could have oceans dozens of miles deep within their interiors, rich in chlorides, ammonia, and salts. Spectrometers and instruments that can detect electrical currents carried by liquid water could help prove the presence of these chemicals under the crusts. New modeling studies on how these moons formed could also help researchers plan future observations.