[Virginia-American]

I wonder if there are the equivalent of smokers under the ice of Europa and other Jovian moons. They're heated internally by tidal stresses.

[Ogmios]

Actually, I wouldn't doubt it, and exobiology is fast becoming the next big biological profession.

A lifeform that would live near such a smoker needs nothing more then the heat and output of the smokers, and of course if it is near the top of the foodchain it's smokestack neighbors. Jupiter itself and the tidal stresses that it puts on it's satelites would really be all the energy necassaary to create the situation.

I would love to send a probe to Europa and dig in and see if theres liquid under there, the cracking etc makes it seem likely, and if possible to dive into that ocean and see if there are simple or even possibly more advanced lifeforms under the ice.

[donh]

So does NASA, Callisto is the other moon that seems like a prominent candidate.

http://www.resa.net/nasa/europa_life.htm