Scientists Intrigued by Large Spider-Like Blob on Europa

Scientists Intrigued by Large Spider-Like Blob on Europa

Spiders from Mars? Try Europa. A team of planetary scientists from Ireland have examined and named an intriguing feature on the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon that resembles the shape of an arachnid — or perhaps an exploded asterisk. They’re calling it “Damhán Alla,” which is Gaelic for “spider,” or in a particularly evocative phrasing, “wall demon.” The team’s analysis, published as a study in The Planetary Science Journal, suggest that Damhán A…

Spider-Like Scar on Jupiter’s Moon Europa Could Indicate Subsurface Salty Water

A spider-like scar on Jupiter’s moon Europa may indicate briny water beneath its icy crust. Researchers suggest impact-driven flows of salty liquid created starburst patterns resembling Earth’s lake stars. Future observations by NASA’s Europa Clipper mission could confirm these features, offering new insights into Europa’s subsurface oceans and potential habitability.