Although Jupiter itself cannot support life as we know it, its moons are believed to contain vast amounts of water, a necessary condition for life.
A group of international scientists has concluded that the clouds near Jupiter could potentially harbor life. According to a study recently published in the journal Nature Astronomy, researchers measured water activity in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Venus using data from various scientific probes.
The largest planet in the Solar System has long attracted the attention of scientists.
The clouds near Jupiter have “the right combination of temperature and water activity” to support life similar to that on Earth, the study claims.
Dr. John Hallsworth, who described this discovery as “profound” and “exciting,” stated: “We were completely not expecting that.” At the same time, he suggested that it is premature to hypothesize that the fifth planet from the Sun has or has had life.
Scientists noted that further research will be needed to understand whether microbial life could exist in the clouds surrounding this gas giant.
Additionally, the researchers mentioned that their study also refutes a study conducted by American astronomers last year, which claimed that Venus could support life because it contains phosphine in its clouds. This is a toxic gas that bacteria can thrive in.
However, the latest research suggests that the clouds near Venus are primarily composed of sulfuric acid, a substance that destroys cellular structures that support life. The clouds near Venus also have very low concentrations of water molecules, making it unable to support even the hardiest microorganisms.
This finding has disappointed researchers, as Venus has long been considered a candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Professor Christopher McKay, a researcher and co-author from NASA, stated: “Unfortunately, our conclusions are directly based on measurements. It is not a model with assumptions.”
The researchers also emphasized that their method for determining water activity could be used beyond our Solar System and assist humanity in the search for extraterrestrial life.
