Almost impossible to reach ocean: Europa may hold more water than Earth

A new study led by Rutgers University planetary scientist Lujendra Ojha suggests Europa's hidden ocean is almost impossible to reach via water rising through ice cracks.

The study, published in Nature Astronomy, simulated water moving through narrow fractures (dikes) in Europa's ice shell and found the water freezes solid before reaching the surface.

The simulations included turbulence, which earlier models had largely left out, showing that water loses heat so fast it freezes quickly.

Europa, one of Jupiter's icy moons, may hold more liquid water than all of Earth's oceans combined, but sampling that ocean may require drilling miles deep.