November 19, 2009

Moonfish

Marc Comtois

According to i09, citing National Geographic, there is oxygen-rich water on Jupiter's ice-covered moon, Europa:

That amount of oxygen would be enough to support more than just microscopic life-forms: At least three million tons of fishlike creatures could theoretically live and breathe on Europa, said study author Richard Greenberg of the University of Arizona in Tucson.

"There's nothing saying there is life there now," said Greenberg, who presented his work last month at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences. "But we do know there are the physical conditions to support it."

In fact, based on what we know about the Jovian moon, parts of Europa's seafloor should greatly resemble the environments around Earth's deep-ocean hydrothermal vents, said deep-sea molecular ecologist Timothy Shank.

"I'd be shocked if no life existed on Europa," said Shank, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

No word yet on when the first fishing expedition will embark. Or if an off-planet fishing license will be required.

Comments, although monitored, are not necessarily representative of the views Anchor Rising's contributors or approved by them. We reserve the right to delete or modify comments for any reason.

"Or if an off-planet fishing license will be required."

Things will change on 1/2/10.

Posted by: Roland at November 19, 2009 3:43 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?

Important note: The text "http:" cannot appear anywhere in your comment.