Boiling Oceans May Exist Beneath Icy Moons, New Study Finds
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A new scientific investigation suggests that some of the
frozen moons circling the outer planets may hide oceans capable of briefly
reaching boiling temperatures—despite lying beneath kilometres of ice.
According to the research team, sudden drops in pressure caused by thinning ice
shells could push subsurface water into a rare state where ice, vapour, and
liquid coexist. Moons such as Mimas, Enceladus, and Miranda, already
suspected of containing internal seas, may undergo these dramatic shifts.
Remarkably, scientists argue that even these extreme environments might still
support certain forms of life beneath the boiling zone.
Surface Activity on Icy Moons Could Be Driven by Cold-Temperature Boiling
A report in Nature Astronomy highlights work led by
geophysicist Maxwell Rudolph, who examined the effects of declining
pressure inside these icy worlds. Unlike Earth, where boiling requires high
temperatures, this phenomenon can occur near 0°C when external pressure
drops suddenly. These events may produce cracks that allow water—and possibly
organic materials—to erupt onto the surface.
Researchers believe this mechanism could help explain
Enceladus' famous geysers and recent signs that Mimas may possess a
surprisingly young internal ocean. Smaller moons appear more prone to this kind
of boiling event, while larger bodies like Titania may instead
experience fractures or crustal shifts.
Boiling Events May Trap Gases and Reveal Invisible Oceans
The study also suggests that these boiling episodes could
release gases that later become sealed inside icy structures known as clathrates.
Such formations may serve as markers for scientists searching for hidden oceans
on distant moons. Understanding how these gases behave could also reveal clues
about surface features on Uranus’ moons, whose ridges and patterns may result
from ancient melt-and-freeze cycles.
If future missions confirm these findings, they would
strengthen the case that icy moons across the outer solar system remain
promising places to search for extraterrestrial life—even in landscapes shaped
by extreme and unpredictable changes.
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