Unveiling the Solar System’s Chilling Secret
Our solar system might be hiding a steamy secret beneath its smallest, coldest moons. Recent research suggests that some of these icy moons, once thought to be frozen solid, could actually harbor boiling oceans beneath their thick crusts. These findings are turning what we know about the outer solar system on its head. Forget your winter coat—if you could burrow deep enough, you might need a swimming suit instead!
Why Are Scientists So Excited?
The idea that small moons like Miranda or Enceladus might have liquid—and even boiling—water under their icy surfaces is a game-changer for planetary science and the search for extraterrestrial life. These boiling oceans could offer the perfect environment for unique forms of life to thrive, far from the sun’s warmth but close to the heat generated by tidal forces and radioactive elements. Suddenly, the coldest places in the solar system just got a lot hotter—and a lot more interesting!
Who knew the next exotic spa destination might be under a hundred miles of ice? (Pack your pressure suit and leave the rubber ducky at home!)
Sources:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/boiling-oceans-icy-moons/