The surface of Jupiter's
moon Europa
has shifted. Photographs released yesterday
of Europa's surface taken by the spacecraft Galileo
show that the smooth moon's icy surface is sometimes like a giant scrambled jigsaw puzzle. Pieces of Europa's surface,
identifiable above, have rafted to new locations. Also visible
are larger areas that are clearly shifted from their original
alignment. What could cause this surface shuffle? One leading
explanation is water - oceans of water just beneath Europa's
ice plains. This discovery again fuels speculation that life
might exist far from the comfort of Earth.
