Laser technique could spot life on Jupiter’s moon

By willowt // 2025-03-13

Mastodon

Parler

Gab

Copy

Europa, Jupiter’s icy moon, has a subsurface ocean containing twice the volume of Earth’s oceans, kept liquid by tidal heating. This, along with possible hydrothermal vents, makes it a prime candidate for harboring extraterrestrial life.
A novel technique using laser-induced ultraviolet fluorescence could detect amino acids like tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine in Europa’s surface ice. This method allows for biosignature detection from orbit without needing a lander.
NASA is developing the Europa Lander mission, equipped with the EMILI instrument, to directly analyze surface samples for organic molecules. EMILI combines advanced techniques to detect and characterize potential biosignatures at extremely low concentrations.
Discovering life on Europa would provide a second example of biology in our solar system, independent of Earth, profoundly impacting our understanding of life’s origins and its potential prevalence in the universe.
Tools like laser-induced fluorescence and EMILI represent cutting-edge advancements in astrobiology, bringing humanity closer to answering whether life exists beyond Earth and redefining our place in the cosmos.

Jupiter’s moon Europa has long captivated scientists with its icy surface and the tantalizing possibility of a vast subsurface ocean. Now, groundbreaking research suggests that a laser-based technique could detect signs of life on Europa—without even touching its surface. This discovery could revolutionize our search for extraterrestrial life and bring us closer to answering one of humanity’s most profound questions: Are we alone in the universe?

Europa: A frozen world with a hidden ocean

Europa, the sixth-largest moon in our solar system, was discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610. Its smooth, icy surface is crisscrossed with cracks and ridges, hinting at dynamic geological activity beneath. What makes Europa truly remarkable, however, is the strong evidence for a subsurface ocean of liquid water—potentially holding twice the volume of all Earth’s oceans combined. This ocean is kept liquid by tidal heating, a result of Jupiter’s immense gravitational pull, despite surface temperatures averaging a frigid -160°C. The presence of liquid water, combined with the possibility of hydrothermal vents on Europa’s ocean floor, makes this moon a prime candidate for harboring life. On Earth, hydrothermal vents are teeming with life, supported by chemical reactions like serpentinization, which produces hydrogen and organic molecules. Could similar processes be occurring on Europa?

A laser’s glow: detecting life from afar

A team led by Gideon Yoffe from the Weizmann Institute of Science has proposed a novel method to search for life on Europa: laser-induced ultraviolet fluorescence. Their research, published in Fluorescent Biomolecules Detectable in Near-Surface Ice on Europa, suggests that certain amino acids — tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine — could survive in Europa’s surface ice for hundreds of years, even in the face of intense radiation from Jupiter’s magnetosphere. When targeted with a laser, these amino acids emit distinctive fluorescent light in the 200-400 nanometer range. This technique could be deployed from an orbiting spacecraft, scanning Europa’s surface for biosignatures without the need for a lander. “This is a game-changer,” says Yoffe. “We could detect signs of life from space, focusing on geologically young regions where ocean material may have recently reached the surface.”

The Europa lander: A deeper dive

While the laser technique offers a tantalizing glimpse, NASA is already preparing for a more direct approach. The Europa Lander mission, currently under study, aims to analyze surface samples for molecular biosignatures. At the heart of this mission is the Europan Molecular Indicators of Life Investigation (EMILI), an advanced instrument designed to detect and characterize organic compounds. EMILI combines two powerful analytical techniques: liquid extraction with capillary electrophoresis and thermal/chemical extraction with gas chromatography. This dual approach allows EMILI to detect a wide range of organic molecules, from amino acids to fatty acids, at incredibly low concentrations. “EMILI is like a molecular detective,” explains Dr. Kevin Hand, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “It can identify the building blocks of life and determine whether they’re of biological origin.”

A new era in astrobiology

The search for life on Europa is more than a scientific endeavor—it’s a quest to understand our place in the cosmos. If life exists on Europa, it would likely be entirely independent of Earth, offering a second example of biology in our solar system. This discovery would profoundly impact our understanding of life’s origins and its potential prevalence in the universe. Historically, the search for extraterrestrial life has been fraught with challenges. From the Viking missions to Mars in the 1970s to the recent discovery of phosphine in Venus’s atmosphere, scientists have often grappled with ambiguous results. Europa, with its subsurface ocean and potential for hydrothermal activity, represents one of the most promising targets yet. As we stand on the brink of a new era in astrobiology, the tools and techniques being developed — from laser-induced fluorescence to the EMILI instrument — are paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries. Whether through a distant laser scan or a direct sample analysis, the answer to the question “Is Europa alive?” may soon be within our grasp. In the words of Carl Sagan, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” For Europa, that incredible something might just be life itself. Sources include: UniverseToday.com Frontiersin.org