Scientist Predicts Higher Forms Of Alien Life on Europa

It's 'almost a racing certainty' there's alien life on Jupiter's moon Europa—and Mars could be hiding primitive microorganisms, too. That's the view of leading British space scientist Professor Monica Grady, who says the notion of undiscovered life in our galaxy isn't nearly as far-fetched as we might expect.

Professor Grady, a Professor of Planetary and Space Science, says the frigid seas beneath Europa's ice sheets could harbor 'octopus' like creatures. Meanwhile the deep caverns and caves found on Mars may also hide subterranean life-forms—as they offer shelter from intense solar radiation while also potentially boasting remnants of ice.

Professor Grady was speaking at Liverpool Hope University, where she's just been installed as Chancellor, and revealed: "When it comes to the prospects of life beyond Earth, it's almost a racing certainty that there's life beneath the ice on Europa.

"Elsewhere, if there's going to be life on Mars, it's going to be under the surface of the planet. "There you're protected from solar radiation. And that means there's the possibility of ice remaining in the pores of the rocks, which could act as a source of water.

"If there is something on Mars, it's likely to be very small—bacteria.

"But I think we've got a better chance of having slightly higher forms of life on Europa, perhaps similar to the intelligence of an octopus."

Well, if that's the case then the universe could be teeming with life and probably advanced civilizations far ahead of us in technology that would perhaps seem like magic to us. One scientist said that there are more advanced civilizations partying around the universe than there are grains of sand on planet earth!!

I wouldn't go that far but there is probably more life out there than we can ever imagine!


phys.org...

I really do wish we were not so technologically handicapped that we could get off this planet and go see for ourselves what is really beyond our limited understanding.

a reply to: 727Sky

The only reason I want to believe I will be conscious again in the future is so that I could experience travelling through space and seeing new worlds.

That or experience consciousness in a reality where space is teeming with life.

Perhaps there are big alien cities near the core, getting all the water and heat they need.

a reply to: OrionHunterX

it's almost a racing certainty that there's life beneath the ice on Europa.

That's a pretty strong statement but I agree with Monica , there could well be an ecosystem shielded beneath the Europa's ice sheet.

ESA are due to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer in 2022 followed by NASA's Europa Clipper mission in 2025 so hopefully we should start getting more info on Europa's subsurface habitability latter in the decade.

a reply to: 727Sky

Maybe that's a test. Achieve that technology and be invited as freshmen to a club.

Cheers

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: OrionHunterX

it's almost a racing certainty that there's life beneath the ice on Europa.

That's a pretty strong statement but I agree with Monica , there could well be an ecosystem shielded beneath the Europa's ice sheet.

ESA are due to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer in 2022 followed by NASA's Europa Clipper mission in 2025 so hopefully we should start getting more info on Europa's subsurface habitability latter in the decade.

Even if they do find some form of life under the ice, especially if it is 'octopus like' as quoted in the OP, i doubt the rest of us will be made aware of it for quite some time.

I mean, if they do find octopi on Europa, they will want to study the crap outta them for years to come.

a reply to: OrionHunterX

"Almost", "could", "if"...

Call me when we find something.

Scientist Predicts Higher Forms Of Alien Life on Europa

Rocky Mountain High , Europa just doesn't have the pizazz .....

I agree that the likelihood of some form of life on icy moons like Europa is pretty high especially under that ice sheet.

It would be pretty cool if there were some sort of octopus like species there but I'd it were discovered, as one poster stated, we wouldn't know about it for a while. They might announce they found life but I'm sure they won't say exactly what kind of life they found.

Also, the idea of caves and deep caverns on Mars maybe having life in them is very plausible. The caves can definitely shield a good amount of radiation and ice and water could be prevalent. Take a look at some of our largest caves on earth. Most of the biggest ones have not been fully explored and many have their own ecosystems that have life found in no other environment on earth. And, just like caves on earth, there could be large amounts of fossils to be discovered.

Mars and Europa are just 2 examples. Imagine a lot of the other moons around the gas giant planets. I thought I remember reading about a moon around Neptune or Uranus that was unique and of interest to scientists. Anyone know or remember this?
S & F for this post OP thanks!

Always fascinating when it's predicted that life exists elsewhere. We get a lot of these predictions. At least 3 a year. It's about time that they actually found some. Scientists saying they are out there is getting a little old now.

a reply to: rhynouk

The problem is that they call those things "predictions" when in fact they are suppositions.

I have my doubts on life being in Europa , but you never know.

They estimate the ice sheet to be 15 Miles thick.
I guess the problem in finding out is going to be how do you get through that much ice to go down and look for life
. Even if you could do so, like dropping something radioactive on it to melt through, the hole would close up behind it as it went down. Let alone the eruption of pressure that would happen if somehow you did get through.

I don't think you could do it here on earth, let alone robotically all the way over on Europa

originally posted by: 727Sky
I really do wish we were not so technologically handicapped that we could get off this planet and go see for ourselves what is really beyond our limited understanding.

The handicap is not technological. It's human nature. The motive just isn't there. I mean, I don't think we have the technology for interstellar travel but we certainly have the technology to do interplanetary travel and exploration. The problem? Money. That's all. How much is it going to cost to go to Mars and what will the people who pay for that get out of their investment? We can assume they haven't found any evidence that stimulates the profit/benefit/gain center in their brains because if they had, they'd have had people there 20-30 years ago. Mere innocent curiosity isn't enough.

Humans are handicapped by human nature. Not technology. We don't need the technology to go very far into space so we have not spent the time, money and effort on creating it. Take a look at your cell phone. When humans want to do something, we will find a way. The humble cell phone is an almost unbelievable achievement that no one could have imagined 100 years ago. And it exists for one purpose. Money and power.

a reply to: OrionHunterX

So far 13 flags for a scientist who guesses there might be life on another planet/satellite
Deny ignorance or embrace it
It a silly guess and nothing more, could be made by a child or a talking frog and it would be nothing, a scientist who guessed
Desperation?

a reply to: OrionHunterX

She also says:

We could be all there is in the galaxy.

It is nothing but talk as long as there is no data to provide certainty.

I've shared here on ATS multiple times that a OUIJA Board told me there is life on some of the Moons of our solar system; namely ENCALADUS. So, Enceladus is where I would look first. Take this with a grain of salt. It was an Ouija Board that told me. LOL



en.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: OrionHunterX

"octopus like creatures"

I wonder how they taste..!?!

Said every person in Wuhan, who read this article.

Sorry ahead... I couldn't resist..!!

a reply to: OrionHunterX
Have you watched this movie?
Professor Monica Grady is about 7 years late in her prediction.

a reply to: Ironclad1964

And almost every person in Portugal.