Home Why Humans Will (Probably) Discover Aliens on Europa

Why Humans Will (Probably) Discover Aliens on Europa

Editor’s note: This post was originally published by our partners at PopSugar Tech.

The soundtrack rumbles, the surface of Jupiter’s ice-covered moon Europa quakes, and moonwalking astronauts quiver fearfully in the epic trailer of Europa Report. At first glance, the new feature film appears to be yet another dramatic, theatrical Hollywood-ization of human spaceflight, but the creators of the movie were intent on turning science fiction into science faction.

Two members of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Kevin Hand and Steven Vance, actually joined the Europa Report‘s cast and crew at a Comic-Con panel to verify that the science in the film was as close to the real thing as possible. Europa is, in fact, the most plausible place within our solar system that could harbor the answer to one of humanity’s greatest questions: are we alone?

Why is this ice-covered moon orbiting Jupiter’s giant gaseous mass suspected of supporting extraterrestrial life? The NASA JPL scientists on the panel presented just a few of the most compelling reasons:

  • Beneath the moon’s ice crust is an ocean. On Earth, where there is water, there is usually life.
  • Plenty of Earthbound creatures, like giant tube worms, can live deep below the surface where there’s no light. The same kind of life-form may exist in the deep underground ocean of Europa.
  • The ocean on Europa is about twice as voluminous as all of the Earth’s oceans combined. That’s a large swath of biological opportunity waiting to happen.
  • The moon flexes in shape because of Jupiter’s gravitational pull, which generates the heat that keeps Europa’s ocean water, instead of ice.

Kevin and Steven served as consultants on the film and contributed to its scientific authenticity. We can’t wait to see the film — and not just for its dedication to physics, cosmology, and rocket science accuracy. Bear McCreary, who created the iconic sounds of Battlestar Galactica, The Walking Dead, Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and many geeky shows, crafted a beautiful score for the film that bounces between deep dubstep-like synthesizers and sweet melodies. Bear claims it’s “one of the prettiest melodies I’ve ever made.”

Director Sebastian Cordero filmed Europa Report as a documentary, which only adds to the true-to-life nature of the film. He also used imagery from NASA probes to create computer-generated images of Jupiter and Europa’s surface. At the Comic-Con panel, we saw a clip from the film of the spacecraft landing on the ice moon’s surface. It was a particularly striking image, commented moderator Phil Plait (aka @BadAstronomer), since the scene parallels the Apollo moon landing, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this week. The film is certainly an interesting look at what is possible for the next generation of human spaceflight.

An article in the New Republic claims that the arts give us science fiction and we are better for it. That couldn’t ring truer with Europa Report, a Hollywood portrayal of a possibly very real future scenario, which could inspire young scientists to explore the questions posed by the film and give jaded taxpaying grown-ups a convincing reason to continue supporting space agencies.

The film hits theaters on Aug. 2, and is available on iTunes now.

More stories from PopSugar Tech:
Not Enough Free Space? What to Delete on Your iPhone
Direwolf Cake Pops to Die For
Cases Fit for the Kindle Paperwhite
Cosplay Capture: The Hero vs. the Antihero
Travel Cameras for Goofproof, Waterproof Fun

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.