Hydrothermal vents on seafloors of 'ocean worlds' could support life

A new study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers suggests that lower-temperature hydrothermal vents, common on Earth's seafloor, could create life-supporting conditions on "ocean worlds" in our solar system. These ocean worlds, like Jupiter's moon Europa, may have the internal heat necessary to drive hydrothermal circulation under their seafloors, potentially supporting life. The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, used computer simulations to show that hydrothermal vents could be sustained under various conditions on these ocean worlds. The researchers found that even at low temperatures, circulation could continue for millions or billions of years, aiding in the longevity of fluid-circulation systems. The study was funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation and involved researchers from various institutions. While direct observation of active hydrothermal systems on ocean worlds remains a challenge due to technical limitations, the study emphasizes the importance of leveraging existing data and knowledge from Earth systems to understand these alien environments.