NASA's Juno Mission Reveals New Insights on Oxygen Production on Europa

Recent findings show Europa produces significantly less oxygen than previously estimated, with implications for its potential to support life.

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.