Scientists have discovered what appears to be a massive lake of liquid water underneath the surface of one of Jupiter's moons, which could potentially be the habitat for some form of life.
Researchers at the University of Texas say the body of water discovered underneath Europa's icy shell is about the size of all of the Great Lakes combined.
Their analysis, published in the journal Nature, says warm water created by tidal forces pushes up against the moon's thick icy shell, melting and fracturing the outer layers.
As a result, the researchers say lakes probably exist as little as three kilometres from the surface. Scientists have long thought a giant ocean existed somewhere between 10 to 30 kilometres underneath the ice shell.
Randy Attwood, managing editor of Space Quarterly, calls the discovery "game-changing.
"We see evidence where (life) might be (around the universe) and this is one best places where it could potentially be," he told CTV's Canada AM Thursday.
The cracks in Europa's outer shell, discovered by analyzing images from the Galileo spacecraft which orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003, could transfer nutrients between the surface and the waters below. Biologists say this is one of the keys for life to exist.
An orbiting spacecraft with ice-penetrating radar would be needed to confirm the researchers' analysis.
NASA is considering a mission, to be launched within the next 10 years, to map Europa's lakes in detail.
However, Attwood is not confident that the mission will go forward given the United States' current economic situation.
"They haven't been able to find money for it (before) and now of course, they are going to have more problems finding money," he said.
