Scientists from NASA believe that life on other planets may be hiding under a layer of ice. In their opinion, for example, on Enceladus, the moon of Saturn and Europa, the moon of Jupiter, as well as on some other planets and satellites, there may be a whole underground oceanic world.
According to researchers, on Enceladus and Europa, columns of smoke may be emitted, as well as water vapor is present. Therefore, there must be some form of energy on these planets that directs these emissions. And the presence of water and energy can be signs of the existence of life. According to the author of the study, Lyna Quick, there can be quite a lot of such planets.
With the help of mathematical analysis, the scientist came to the conclusion that a quarter of the planets in the Milky Way may have oceans, and some of them are covered with ice. And just like on Enceladus and Europa, many of them can release energy through volcanoes or cryovolcanoes. A sufficient release of heat can make a seemingly uninhabited exoplanet suitable for life.
According to scientists, it is necessary to measure the heat released by an exoplanet or detect, for example, volcanic eruptions. But so far, existing technologies do not allow this to be done.
In the solar system, frozen satellites with oceans that are far from solar energy have characteristics that are necessary for life, according to NASA astrophysicist Aki Roberghi, who took part in the study.