Earth as a potential source of life for Europa’s subsurface ocean
Abstract
Abstract The paper discusses the possibility of dust particles containing living bacteria ejected from Earth reaching Europa and landing on its surface. It is shown that, taking certain factors into account, over a period of 30 − 80 Myr (the estimated age of Europa’s ocean), Jupiter’s moon would have been impacted by approximately 3 × 10 23 to 8 × 10 23 particles in total, within which a bacterium could have survived. In the paper, we discuss the possibility of dust grains entering liquid water beneath the surface.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Astro and Planetary Science
Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
Publication details
- Journal / source
- International Journal of Astrobiology
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Volume
- 25
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN