It is Probable that Europa Supports Life

If voters wish to deduct a conduct point for this, the voters may. Before we begin, I must mention that life (as we know it) requires several things before it can flourish: liquid water, energy, protection from radiation, carbon and oxygen. [1] I contend that Europa has all of the things listed above, can create an environment that is hospitable for life, and can have a means of abiogenisis, so that is more likely than not to have life in its oceans, in affirmation of the resolution. Liquid WaterWater is one of the, if not the most, important ingredients for life, acting as a solvent so that the metabolic processes of life can occur. [2] There is general consensus among scientists that Europa harbors a vast hidden ocean, more voluminous than all of Earth's ocean's combined, under its (literally) icy surface. Several observations strongly support this hypothesis: Europa's surface is young, smooth, and has remarkably little cratering. [3] This insinuates that forces are keeping the surface of the planet in constant motion, something like an ocean. In addition, magnesium, an element which is not blown Europa's way by means of Io's volcanos, has been found on the surface of the planet, which points to the magnesium coming from the ocean beneath. [12] The explaination for the ocean goes like this: Europa is in a slightly elliptical orbit and in orbital resonance with two other Galilean satellites--Io and Ganymede--means that tidal flexing can knead the insides of the planet, creating an environment fit for liquid water, and can possibly generate some geologic activity, like the hydrothermal vents in the depths of Earth's oceans. [3,4]Protection From RadiationRadiation tends to rent the biological mechanisms of life asunder, and Jupiter is the second greatest producer of radiation in the solar system, aside from the sun. [5] Europa is a close orbiter of the gas giant, bearing the full brunt of Jupiter's deluge--5400 mSv per day. However, estimations for the thickness of Europa's icy crust are at thinnest a few kilometers thick, which is more than enough to block any and all radiation coming from its parent planet. [3]EnergyNo ecosystem can exist without some sort of energy coming in form outside; on Earth, most food chains are powered on radiation from the Sun. [1] On Europa, farther away and wreathed in a thick layer of ice to boot, must have a different energy system in order for living things to grow there. There may be an alternate energy source for Europan ecosystems: Due to the fact that, as discussed before, that Europa undergoes tidal flexing and could have some geologic activity, it can form hydrothermal vents. The chemical and thermal energy that the vents could provide could be the start of a chemosynthesis-based food web similar to that of independent deep-sea ecosystems around black smokers. [4]OxygenWhile there are some organisms which do not require oxygen to live, most of the organisms here on earth do need it. [1] There are multiple ways that life on Europa could gain access to molecular oxygen. Molecular oxygen, formed through radiolysis, makes up the vast majority of Europa's tenuous atmosphere. [3] However, some of the oxygen doesn't go into the atmosphere, and instead goes into the moon's subsurface ocean, providing oxygen to whatever lives in Europa's depths. [3] In addition, hydrogen peroxide has been detected on the surface of the planet, and if and when the hydrogen peroxide could find its way down into Europa's ocean, then it could also be an important factor in energy and in oxidation. [6]CarbonCarbon is considered to be the building block of all life on Earth, a vital part of the macromolecules of life. [7] Carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons were detected by the Galileo spacecraft when it was still operational, meaning that there is a source of carbon on the moon. [8] In addition, being a moon that orbits Jupiter, a planet known as the "solar system's vacuum cleaner," [4] Europa is likely to be subject to large amounts of asteroid impacts, some of them being the type of asteroids that contain organic molecules. While this is certainly not the main supply of carbon on the moon, it could certainly be a small aid to the content of organic molecules, and could play a part of the abiogenisis process. AbiogenisisHow abiogenisis occurs is poorly understood, so caution should be present when discussing it. However, if we are relying on the hypothesis that life on Europa is going to form the hydrothermal vents in the depths of the moon's ocean, then whatever caused abiogenisis in Earth's hydrothermal vents could also be the means of abiogenisis on Europa. Conclusion:On Earth, life exists in some extreme places. It exists in the darkest depths of the sea [4], the hot springs of Yellowstone [9], and even in the clouds above our heads [10]. I have shown that Europa has displayed qualities that indicate that it is favorable for life to form, and there is a means for abiogenisis, compared to the places life has been on this earth, would it be any stranger to find life--even if it was just bacteria or archea--on Europa? I await the rebuttal from my opponent. Sources:[1] . http://en.wikipedia.org...[2] . http://en.wikipedia.org...[3] . http://en.wikipedia.org...[4] . http://en.wikipedia.org...[5] . http://en.wikipedia.org...[6] . http://solarsystem.nasa.gov...[7] . http://en.wikipedia.org...[8] . http://news.nationalgeographic.com...[9] . http://www.scientificamerican.com...[10] . http://www.livescience.com...[11] . http://keckobservatory.org...