A new model predicts locations on the surface of radiation-blasted Europa, the ocean moon of Jupiter, where biochemical signatures of life emergent from the subsurface ocean might survive long enough for detection on the moon’s changing surface.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Pappalardo, R. T. et al. Astrobiology 13, 740–773 (2013).
Nordheim, T. A., Hand, K. P. & Paranicas, C. Nat. Astron. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0499-8 (2018).
Paranicas, C. et al. in Europa (Space Science Series) (eds Pappalardo, R. T., McKinnon, W. B. & Khurana, K. K.) 529–544 (University of Arizona Press, AZ, Tucson, 2009).
Cox, M. M. & Battista, J. R. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 3, 882–892 (2005).
Wharton, D. R. A. & Wharton, M. L. Radiat. Res. 11, 600–615 (1959).
Chyba, C. F. Nature 403, 381–382 (2000).
Cooper, J. F. et al. Icarus 149, 133–159 (2001).
Moore, J. M. et al. in Europa (Space Science Series) (eds Pappalardo, R. T., McKinnon, W. B. & Khurana, K. K.) 329–349 (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ, 2009).
Europa Study Team Europa Study 2012 Report JPL D-71990 (NASA, 2012).
Roth, L. et al. Science 343, 171–174 (2014).
Sparks, W. B. et al. Astrophys. J. 829, 121 (2016).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cooper, J.F. Biosignature hide and seek. Nat Astron 2, 617–618 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0542-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0542-9