Overview

• NASA's Juno spacecraft has discovered that Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, produces about 26 pounds of oxygen per second, a rate much lower than earlier estimates.
• The oxygen is generated through the bombardment of Europa's icy surface by charged particles from Jupiter, splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
• Scientists believe some of the oxygen could migrate to Europa's subsurface ocean, potentially providing a source of metabolic energy for life.
• Europa's potential for life is further supported by its vast internal ocean beneath an icy crust, raising questions about life-supporting conditions below the surface.
• The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, refine our understanding of Europa's environment and its potential habitability ahead of the Europa Clipper mission in 2030.