Life on Mars: Life on Mars, Saturn’s moon Enceladus, Jupiter’s moon Europa? New study offers ray of hope

Is life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus, Jupiter’s moon Europa, Mars possible? A recent study has revealed that cosmic rays may help life on the aforementioned places. A team of researchers led by Dimitra Atri from New York University Abu Dhabi has introduced a groundbreaking concept known as the “radiolytic habitable zone.” Unlike the traditional habitable zone that depends on starlight and surface temperatures, this new framework focuses on regions beneath the surface of celestial bodies where cosmic rays can generate enough energy to potentially support life. The findings were published in the International Journal of Astrobiology.

The study explores how cosmic radiation could drive chemical reactions that release energy underground, creating conditions favorable for microbial life. By calculating the potential for life at different depths, the team has expanded the search for habitability to locations previously overlooked, such as subsurface environments on Mars, Jupiter’s moon Europa, and Saturn’s moon Enceladus. This new approach broadens the scope of astrobiological research and opens up exciting possibilities for discovering life beyond Earth.

Building on their recent theoretical work, Dimitra Atri and his research team are preparing to test their “radiolytic habitable zone” hypothesis in the lab. Using a planetary simulation chamber capable of mimicking the extreme conditions of alien environments—adjusting temperature, pressure, and atmospheric composition—they aim to determine whether cosmic rays could truly generate enough energy to sustain microbial life beneath the surface of planets and moons. If the lab results support their theory, it could guide future missions in the search for extraterrestrial life on Mars, Europa, and Enceladus.
Atri’s calculations suggest that the most promising location for microbial life on Mars lies between one and two meters underground. Conveniently, this is within the drilling range of the European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover, scheduled to launch no earlier than 2028. Equipped with a drill capable of reaching two meters deep, the rover may be perfectly positioned to explore these subsurface zones and test the radiolytic life theory in the field.

FAQs

Q1. What is Saturn’s moon?
A1. Saturn’s moon is Enceladus.Q2. What is Jupiter’s moon?
A2. Jupiter’s moon is Europa.