NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has made an exciting discovery on Jupiter's moon Europa, suggesting a possible sign of alien life. Europa, known for its thick layer of ice, which scientists believe covers a liquid water ocean, has been identified as one of the most potentially habitable places in our solar system.

Carbon dioxide detected in Europa's atmosphere

In a recent study, evidence has emerged suggesting the presence of carbon dioxide in Europa's ocean. Carbon dioxide is an organic molecule and considered a key building block of life. This discovery was made by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, which can identify chemicals like carbon through infrared wavelengths.

Carbon dioxide likely originated from Europa's internal ocean

Researchers have determined that the carbon dioxide found on Europa is unlikely to have come from an external source, such as a meteorite or asteroid. Cornell University planetary scientist Samantha Trumbo explains, "Previous observations from the Hubble Space Telescope show evidence for ocean-derived salt in Tara Regio. Now we're seeing that carbon dioxide is heavily concentrated there as well. We think this implies that the carbon probably has its ultimate origin in the internal ocean."

Further research planned

Scientists are eager to conduct further research on Europa to understand more about the potential habitability of its ocean. NASA is set to launch its Clipper mission in 2024, while the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft is expected to reach Jupiter's orbit by 2031. In the meantime, the James Webb Space Telescope will continue to gather valuable observations of Jupiter and its mysterious moons.