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Europa’s orbit is an ellipse, and the satellite’s shape is affected by Jupiter’s gravity, becoming deformed when it passes closer to Jupiter. This change in shape creates friction inside Europa, generating enormous amounts of heat in a mechanism known as tidal heating, which melts some of the ice and forms a vast internal ocean beneath […]
The Acidalia Planitia, the darker region towards the top right of this image of Mars, may host bacteria deep beneath its rocky surface NASA/JPL/USGS A specific area on Mars has been identified as a potential location for current life – with the organisms living far beneath the surface. Andrea Butturini at the University of Barcelona […]