NASA's Galileo Data Reveals Ammonia on Europa's Surface, Hints at Life Potential

• NASA's re-analysis of Galileo mission data confirms the first discovery of ammonia-bearing compounds on Jupiter's moon Europa.
• Ammonia, a nitrogen-bearing molecule, is crucial for life as we know it, making this finding significant for Europa's habitability.
• The compounds were detected near fractures on Europa's frozen surface, suggesting they rose from a subsurface ocean or shallow subsurface via cryo-volcanism.
• Ammonia acts as an antifreeze, lowering water's freezing point, and its short lifespan in space implies recent geological activity.
• This discovery highlights the value of legacy space mission data and provides a key target for the upcoming Europa Clipper mission in 2030.

Why It Matters: Ammonia on Europa's surface, detected by re-analyzed Galileo data, boosts its potential for life.