Europa is the smallest of Jupiter's four major (Galilean) moons. As best we can tell it is covered by a thick icy surface that shields a large liquid saline salt water ocean from Jupiter's lethal radiation. Plumes of water that escape the icy surface would indicate subsurface geological activity, and thus a source of heat for Europa's ocean.
Why does this matter? It means that, based on what we know about Europa, and about microscopic life's ability to thrive in similar environments here on Earth, Jupiter's moon could theoretically harbor life. And, if it did, it would, ironically, be another step like the ones that got Galileo in hot water (and house arrest) with the ruling religious authorities of his day. It would be one more small step for mankind toward the realization that the universe does not revolve around human beings.
In the story of civilization thus far, we have written ourselves into the lead roles, the main characters. We are why everything else is. Everything in creation was created for us. We deem ourselves to be the image of the universe's creative deity. We design a plot in which that deity gives us dominion over all things.
What if our story is fiction? What if, in the vastness of the universe, there exists other sentient beings with mental and physical faculties equal to, or advanced beyond, our own? What if our concept of mental and physical superiority is flawed from the start? What if language skills and the use of tools, and the other things we point to in claiming superiority as a species are in fact not meaningful indicators of our status in the community of life? Would our lives be meaningless without superiority, without dominion?
Could we just be thankful to have the opportunity to live, and determine to do as much good as possible while we have the chance?
If in fact we discovered we were not the supreme beings of all creation:
Could we value humility over hubris?
Could we value goodness over greatness?
Could we value time over material?
Could we value effort over success?
Could we value trying over winning?
Could we value leaving the world a better place over going to a better place?
Some day, probably after I'm gone, I suspect we'll discover microscopic life on one of the Jovian moons, but I could be wrong. We may never know for certain if any life exists anywhere in the universe outside our home planet. But, I do believe this; if we continue to behave as if we are the only things in creation that matter, as if everything is here to serve our purposes, as if we are superior to all living and non-living things in the universe; eventually, one way or another, the universe will prove us wrong.
Why does this matter? It means that, based on what we know about Europa, and about microscopic life's ability to thrive in similar environments here on Earth, Jupiter's moon could theoretically harbor life. And, if it did, it would, ironically, be another step like the ones that got Galileo in hot water (and house arrest) with the ruling religious authorities of his day. It would be one more small step for mankind toward the realization that the universe does not revolve around human beings.
In the story of civilization thus far, we have written ourselves into the lead roles, the main characters. We are why everything else is. Everything in creation was created for us. We deem ourselves to be the image of the universe's creative deity. We design a plot in which that deity gives us dominion over all things.
What if our story is fiction? What if, in the vastness of the universe, there exists other sentient beings with mental and physical faculties equal to, or advanced beyond, our own? What if our concept of mental and physical superiority is flawed from the start? What if language skills and the use of tools, and the other things we point to in claiming superiority as a species are in fact not meaningful indicators of our status in the community of life? Would our lives be meaningless without superiority, without dominion?
Could we just be thankful to have the opportunity to live, and determine to do as much good as possible while we have the chance?
If in fact we discovered we were not the supreme beings of all creation:
Could we value humility over hubris?
Could we value goodness over greatness?
Could we value time over material?
Could we value effort over success?
Could we value trying over winning?
Could we value leaving the world a better place over going to a better place?
Some day, probably after I'm gone, I suspect we'll discover microscopic life on one of the Jovian moons, but I could be wrong. We may never know for certain if any life exists anywhere in the universe outside our home planet. But, I do believe this; if we continue to behave as if we are the only things in creation that matter, as if everything is here to serve our purposes, as if we are superior to all living and non-living things in the universe; eventually, one way or another, the universe will prove us wrong.
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