From Earth to Europa: An Exploration into Sulfur-Ice Environments

在整个太阳系中已经发现了许多水世界，每个水世界都在厚厚的冰/岩石外壳下隐藏着一个液态的地下海洋。木星的卫星木卫二可能是其中最有前途的天体生物学;其海底的热液活动和其表面的放射性硫/氧生产的汇合创造了潜在生命利用的化学能源。混乱的地形纵横交错的欧罗巴的外部表明可能与底层海洋的通信，因此调查这些可能的羽流将是即将到来的生命探测任务（例如，欧罗巴快船）的关键。这项研究的目的不仅是进一步了解欧罗巴，探索不同冰的物理和化学，不同物理化学条件下的生物特征修改率/检测方法，以及行星尺度的氧化还原系统，而且还包括地球上脆弱的北极环境沿着其相关的微生物群落。这将通过实地考察，建模，并最终实验室实验，包括：傅立叶变换红外光谱，环境模拟室，细胞限制和微生物群落分析，和离子/元素成分调查。所获得的知识随后将用于模拟海洋和大气层不接触的类似系外行星超级地球。最终，研究结果将增强我们对地球及其他极端环境中的可居住性和生命的了解。

Many water worlds have been discovered throughout the solar system, each hiding a liquid, sub-surface ocean beneath a thick shell of ice/rock. Jupiter's moon Europa may be the most astrobiologically promising of these; the confluence of hydrothermal activity on its seafloor and radiolytic sulfur/oxygen production at its surface creates a source of chemical energy for potential life to utilize. Chaos terrains criss-crossing Europa's exterior suggest possible communication with the underlying ocean, therefore investigating these alongside possible plumes will be critical for upcoming life-detection missions (e.g, Europa Clipper). This research aims to further our understanding of not only Europa, exploring the physics and chemistry of different ices, biosignature modification rates/detection methods under different physiochemical conditions, and planetary-scale redox systems, but also of vulnerable Arctic environments present on Earth along with their associated microbiological communities. This will be achieved through fieldwork, modelling, and finally laboratory experimentation including: FT-IR spectroscopy, environmental simulation chambers, cell limitation and microbial community analyses, and ion/elemental compositional investigation. Knowledge gained will subsequently be used in modelling similar exoplanet super-Earths where the ocean and atmosphere are not in contact. Ultimately, results will enhance our knowledge of habitability and life in extreme environments, both on Earth, and beyond.