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10 - Icy Worlds

from Part IV - Astrobiological Targets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2024

Manasvi Lingam
Affiliation:
Florida Institute of Technology
Amedeo Balbi
Affiliation:
Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata'
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Summary

Icy worlds with subsurface oceans are potentially among the most common repositories of liquid water in the Universe. Moreover, the solar system is confirmed to host a number of such worlds, notably: Europa, Enceladus, and Titan. Motivated by these considerations, this chapter examines the habitability of icy worlds from a general standpoint. The oceanic properties of Europa, Enceladus, and Titan are reviewed, followed by a simple analysis of the physical conditions in which subsurface oceans may be supported. The pathways for the formation of the building blocks of life, their assembly into polymers, and subsequent delivery to the subsurface ocean are elucidated. The possible constraints on the availability of energy sources and bioessential elements are delineated, as well as the types of organisms and ecosystems that could exist. The chapter concludes by briefly speculating about the trajectories of biological evolution conceivable on icy worlds.

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From Stars to Life
A Quantitative Approach to Astrobiology
, pp. 222 - 245
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Icy Worlds
  • Manasvi Lingam, Florida Institute of Technology, Amedeo Balbi, Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata'
  • Book: From Stars to Life
  • Online publication: 22 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009411257.011
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  • Icy Worlds
  • Manasvi Lingam, Florida Institute of Technology, Amedeo Balbi, Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata'
  • Book: From Stars to Life
  • Online publication: 22 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009411257.011
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Icy Worlds
  • Manasvi Lingam, Florida Institute of Technology, Amedeo Balbi, Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata'
  • Book: From Stars to Life
  • Online publication: 22 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009411257.011
Available formats
×