Tag

Ocean Worlds

All articles tagged with #ocean worlds

science-space1 month ago•12 min saved

Ocean Worlds Grow: Subsurface Seas Likely Beneath More Outer Solar System Moons

A growing body of evidence suggests several outer‑solar‑system moons—Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Enceladus and Titan among the strongest cases—may harbor global oceans beneath ice, inferred from magnetic, gravitational and geological signals. Mimas, Triton and some Uranian moons remain plausible additions. Archived mission data continue to yield insights, and future missions like Europa Clipper and ESA’s Juice will further test these ocean models, even as not every frozen moon is expected to host liquid water.

via Space Daily|

#enceladus #europa #ocean-worlds

space1 month ago•10 min saved

Hidden Oceans Likely Beneath Uranus’ Titania and Oberon

Thermal models suggest Uranus’s moons Titania and Oberon could host tens-of-kilometre-scale subsurface oceans kept warm by long-lived radioactive decay in their rocky interiors, not by sunlight. While not yet confirmed by direct measurements, these moons are strong ocean-world candidates, potentially expanding the solar system’s roster of habitable worlds; a future Uranus orbiter could test for signs of oceans via gravity, magnetic, and surface observations, with Ariel and Umbriel also flagged as possible candidates under certain conditions and tides providing extra heating.

via Space Daily|

#oberon #ocean-worlds #space

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Deep Atlantic Drilling Reveals Hidden Hot Water Source Fueling Sunless Ocean Life

Scientists drilled 1.3 km beneath the Atlantic seabed near the Lost City hydrothermal field and found superheated, hydrogen-rich water with a chemical fingerprint matching the vent fluids, implying a hidden deep source feeding the sunless ecosystem. The water’s chemistry indicates past temperatures of at least 300°C, highlighting how chemical energy from rock–water reactions supports life without sunlight and offering clues about life on icy ocean worlds; however, samples were mixed with seawater and drilling fluids, and a direct underground connection to the chimneys remains unproven, so further expeditions are planned.

via The Times of India|

#chemosynthesis #hydrothermal-vents #lost-city

science-and-technology1 year ago•7 min saved

NASA Develops Miniature Robots for Ocean World Exploration

NASA is advancing autonomous technologies for robotic missions to ocean worlds like Europa and Enceladus, focusing on AI-driven autonomy due to communication delays and harsh environments. Through programs like OWLAT and OceanWATERS, NASA has developed testbeds to simulate lander operations, enabling research teams to create autonomy solutions for future missions. These efforts, supported by the ARROW and COLDTech programs, have resulted in software and technologies that enhance the ability of landers to operate independently, addressing challenges such as sample collection and fault management.

via Science@NASA|

#artificial-intelligence #autonomy #nasa

science-and-space2 years ago•3 min saved

Pluto's Salty Subsurface Ocean Could Enable Effortless Floating

New research based on data from the New Horizons spacecraft suggests that Pluto has a subsurface ocean beneath a 40-80 km thick ice shell. This ocean, potentially as salty as Earth's Great Salt Lake, challenges previous assumptions that Pluto was too cold to support liquid water. The findings, derived from mathematical models and surface feature analysis, add to the growing evidence that Pluto is a dynamic world with an interior ocean.

via Universe Today|

#cryovolcanoes #new-horizons #ocean-worlds

space-science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Juno's Discovery: Europa's Oxygen Production Could Sustain Millions"

NASA's Juno spacecraft has measured the rate of oxygen production on Jupiter's moon Europa, finding it to be much lower than previously estimated. The observations suggest that charged particles from Jupiter's magnetic field continuously erode Europa's icy surface, producing hydrogen and oxygen. The findings have important implications for future missions to the Jovian system, such as the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission and NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper, which aim to study ocean worlds and their potential to support life.

via NASASpaceflight.com|

#europa #juno-spacecraft #nasa

space-science2 years ago•7 min saved

"Icy Moon Ocean Temperatures Revealed by Ice Thickness"

Scientists are exploring the possibility of warm oceans under icy shells on various Solar System objects, which could potentially support life. Researchers at Cornell University have developed a method to determine the temperature of an icy world's ocean by measuring the thickness of its ice shell and associated properties, known as ice pumping. This method could provide insights into the ocean temperatures of distant worlds without the need for direct exploration. The study has implications for upcoming missions, such as NASA's Europa Clipper, which aims to measure Europa's ice thickness more accurately and potentially uncover clues about the potential for life in these ocean worlds.

via Universe Today|

#europa #ice-pumping #ice-thickness

astronomy2 years ago•6 min saved

"Trapped Intelligence: Why Some Alien Civilizations May Never Reach the Stars"

A new article in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society explores the possibility of intelligent civilizations being trapped on their home worlds, particularly on ocean worlds or super-Earths with high escape velocities. Elio Quiroga introduces the concept of the exoplanet escape factor (Fex) and fishbowl worlds, which could inhibit space travel and communication for potential extraterrestrial civilizations. These factors add complexity to the Drake equation and raise questions about the potential existence of civilizations that may never know the universe beyond their own worlds.

via Phys.org|

#astronomy #civilizations #exoplanets

archaeology-and-science2 years ago•4 min saved

"AI Deciphers 2000-Year-Old Philosopher's Charred Scrolls from Mount Vesuvius Eruption"

Researchers are using new technology to virtually unwrap charred Herculaneum scrolls, revealing nearly complete passages from the philosopher Philodemus, while a study suggests Saturn's moon Mimas may have a hidden ocean, potentially changing our understanding of ocean worlds in the solar system. Additionally, Australian scientists are using spiderwebs to track endangered species, a serene image of a polar bear wins the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award, and the treacherous Drake Passage remains a challenge for ship captains ferrying tourists.

via CNN|

#ancient-scrolls #archaeology-and-science #herculaneum

space-exploration2 years ago•6 min saved

Exploring Ocean Worlds: Cryobot Probes and the Search for Alien Life

Researchers gathered at a NASA-sponsored workshop to discuss the development of a cryobot mission concept to explore the icy moons Europa and Enceladus in search of life. These moons are believed to have vast oceans beneath their icy crusts, making them potential habitats for life. The cryobot, a self-contained probe that uses heat to melt ice, has emerged as a leading candidate for accessing the liquid water. The workshop identified key subsystems, including power, thermal management, mobility, and communication, that need to be developed for a successful cryobot mission. Despite challenges, the consensus is that a cryobot mission remains feasible and scientifically compelling for the direct search for life on ocean worlds.

via Science@NASA|

#cryobot #enceladus #europa

science3 years ago•3 min saved

Massive Water Plume Discovered on Saturn's Moon Enceladus by Webb Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected a record-breaking water plume erupting from Saturn's moon Enceladus. The plume spanned over 6,000 miles and released water vapor, organic chemicals, and ice particles into space. Enceladus is one of several ocean worlds in our solar system where scientists think they have the best chance of finding life beyond Earth. Webb's detailed detection of the plume revealed that the water vapor was releasing from Enceladus at about 79 gallons per second. The discovery could be helpful for future missions to explore Enceladus and discover the depth of its ocean.

via CNN|

#enceladus #james-webb-space-telescope #ocean-worlds