Is There Life Out There? (M.I.K.D.)

Is There Life Out There? (M.I.K.D.)

By: Mr. Baker

Do aliens exist?

“Is there life out there?” is a question scientists who study astrobiology are trying to answer. They look for life in space. In recent years, they have turned their attention to Europa, one of Jupiter’s four largest moons. Europa is a little smaller than Earth’s moon and is covered by a sheet of ice. Its surface is too cold and exposed to too much radiation for anything to live there. Scientists want to know what lies beneath the ice, for that is where any life on Europa would most likely be. 

Multiple Choice

For years, scientists believed all life on Earth depended on energy from the sun. During a process called photosynthesis, plants use energy from sunlight to make food and to release oxygen into the atmosphere. Aerobic creatures rely on that oxygen to breathe. In addition to providing the fuel for photosynthesis, sunlight also provides the necessary warmth for life to survive. Scientists believed life could not survive in extreme temperatures. Main Idea?

• Life can survive in extreme temperatures.

• Life depends on energy from the sun.

• Life depends on oxygen.

Multiple Choice

Scientists also believed that all food chains led back to photosynthesis and the food produced by plants. Recent discoveries, however, have changed the way scientists think about life. They have discovered tubeshaped, worm-like creatures and other animals living around hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. These newfound creatures do not rely on the sun or plants for food and energy. Main Idea?

• Life CAN exist in extreme environments.

• Life CANNOT exist in extreme environments.

• Worm-like creatures live in extreme conditions.

Open Ended

The discovery of chemosynthetic life changed the way astrobiologists think about life in space. No longer do they have to look only for planets with sunlight and oxygen. Based on Earth’s example, planets with oceans and hydrothermal vents might also support life. Based on these discoveries, Europa began to seem like a place where life might exist. Main Idea?

Open Ended

Europa does have oceans. In fact, Europa appears to have more oceans than Earth does. The ice on this moon’s surface covers what appears to be moving liquid water. Do these oceans contain hydrothermal vents? Scientists do not yet know. If they do, the oceans of Europa might support chemosynthetic life. Only a space mission to Europa would tell for certain. Main Idea?

Multiple Choice

Until then, scientists are studying the closest possible environment they can find on Earth: Lake Vostok in Antarctica. Like Europa’s oceans, Lake Vostok exists miles beneath a frozen surface. It does not receive direct sunlight, either. Therefore, like Europa, the lake cannot support photosynthetic life. If scientists find life in the lake, it would support the idea that there might also be life on Europa. Main Idea?

• Life likely exists on Europa.

• If scientists find life in Lake Vostok, there could also be life on Europa.

• Life probably does not exist on Europa because it is too cold.