Giant impacts may strip small icy moons of subsurface oceans
Scientists from the Southwest Research Institute have modeled how disruptive collisions affect the subsurface oceans of icy moons. The study concludes that while large impacts may preserve existing oceans, they are unlikely to create new ones.
Why it matters
Understanding the formation and persistence of subsurface oceans is critical for identifying potential habitats for extraterrestrial life in our solar system.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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