Scientists have discovered a spider on Jupiter's moon Europa, which seems to have been formed when salty water erupted to the surface following an impact that gouged a crater. The Manannán crater was recently studied by researchers from the Planetary Science Institute, the University of Central Florida, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and other institutions. It looks like the spiders seen on Mars and Earth, but the reason for their formation is different. The Martian spiders are formed when carbon dioxide gas escapes from underground, eroding the dust to form spider-like shapes. On Earth, such features are found on frozen lakes and ponds and are called lake stars, and are formed when snow falls on frozen lakes.&nbsp;In the Manannán crater, this "spider" has been nicknamed Damhán Alla, the Irish term for the arachnid. It is one of the largest craters on Europa, stretching 21-23 kilometres in diameter, with the spider right at the centre. Previous studies of the crater have revealed ice and hydrated water minerals in concentrated form around it. Now, according to findings published in The Planetary Science Journal on December 2, 2025, briny water was released from the crater billions of years ago, causing this spider to take shape in the crater, EarthSky reported.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-just-recreated-spiders-seen-on-mars-in-a-lab-on-earth-758451">NASA just recreated 'spiders' seen on Mars in a lab on Earth</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spiders-on-mars-esas-mars-express-captures-unique-phenomenon-on-the-red-planet-714917">Spiders on Mars? European mission captures weird black spots near Inca City</a><h2>Manannán impact opened up a subsurface brine reservoir</h2>Co-author of the study, Elodie Lesage of the Planetary Science Institute, said, "This spider-like feature might have formed through the eruption of melted brines following the Manannán impact." This discovery can reveal what the subsurface was like at the time of the impact. "This would mean that it can inform us on subsurface properties and brine composition at the time of the impact," he added.&nbsp;To check their theory, the researchers looked at the lake stars in Breckenridge, Colorado. They used Europa ice simulants cooled with liquid nitrogen to recreate the process in a cryogenic glovebox at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Lauren McKeown, a planetary geomorphologist at the University of Central Florida and lead author of the study, said, "We flowed water through these simulants under different temperatures and found that similar star-like patterns formed even under extremely cold temperatures."&nbsp;McKeown explained that on Earth, "the weight of the snow creates holes in the ice, allowing water to flow through the snow, melting it and spreading in a way that is energetically favourable" to form these patterns. &nbsp;"On Europa, we believe a subsurface brine reservoir could have erupted [after an impact] and spread through porous surface ice, producing a similar pattern," she added.&nbsp;

One giant spider has been observed on Jupiter's moon Europa, sitting right in the middle of its largest crater. Scientists have a theory about Damhán Alla, the name given to this spider. Is it really a spider, or simply another phenomenon on the Jovian moon?

Scientists have discovered a spider on Jupiter's moon Europa, which seems to have been formed when salty water erupted to the surface following an impact that gouged a crater. The Manannán crater was recently studied by researchers from the Planetary Science Institute, the University of Central Florida, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and other institutions. It looks like the spiders seen on Mars and Earth, but the reason for their formation is different. The Martian spiders are formed when carbon dioxide gas escapes from underground, eroding the dust to form spider-like shapes. On Earth, such features are found on frozen lakes and ponds and are called lake stars, and are formed when snow falls on frozen lakes. In the Manannán crater, this "spider" has been nicknamed Damhán Alla, the Irish term for the arachnid. It is one of the largest craters on Europa, stretching 21-23 kilometres in diameter, with the spider right at the centre. Previous studies of the crater have revealed ice and hydrated water minerals in concentrated form around it. Now, according to findings published in The Planetary Science Journal on December 2, 2025, briny water was released from the crater billions of years ago, causing this spider to take shape in the crater, EarthSky reported. Also Read: NASA just recreated 'spiders' seen on Mars in a lab on Earth Also Read: Spiders on Mars? European mission captures weird black spots near Inca City Manannán impact opened up a subsurface brine reservoir Co-author of the study, Elodie Lesage of the Planetary Science Institute, said, "This spider-like feature might have formed through the eruption of melted brines following the Manannán impact." This discovery can reveal what the subsurface was like at the time of the impact. "This would mean that it can inform us on subsurface properties and brine composition at the time of the impact," he added. To check their theory, the researchers looked at the lake stars in Breckenridge, Colorado. They used Europa ice simulants cooled with liquid nitrogen to recreate the process in a cryogenic glovebox at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Lauren McKeown, a planetary geomorphologist at the University of Central Florida and lead author of the study, said, "We flowed water through these simulants under different temperatures and found that similar star-like patterns formed even under extremely cold temperatures." McKeown explained that on Earth, "the weight of the snow creates holes in the ice, allowing water to flow through the snow, melting it and spreading in a way that is energetically favourable" to form these patterns. "On Europa, we believe a subsurface brine reservoir could have erupted [after an impact] and spread through porous surface ice, producing a similar pattern," she added.

One giant spider has been observed on Jupiter's moon Europa, sitting right in the middle of its largest crater. Scientists have a theory about Damhán Alla, the name given to this spider. Is it really a spider, or simply another phenomenon on the Jovian moon?

Giant 'spider' right in the middle of Europa's Manannán crater proof of water? Scientists say...

Beneath its frozen surface lies a vast subsurface ocean, possibly containing more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. Recent research suggests it holds the essential chemical ingredients and energy sources that could support life. 

Beneath its frozen surface lies a vast subsurface ocean, possibly containing more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. Recent research suggests it holds the essential chemical ingredients and energy sources that could support life.&nbsp;

Could humans survive on Europa? NASA reveals shocking facts about Jupiter’s icy moon

Europa and Enceladus are the two moons in our solar system where astronomers believe life can exist. Now they say that complex organic molecules like amino acids and nucleic acids, the "biosignatures" of life, on these worlds could be present just below their frozen surfaces. Enceladus is one of Saturn's 146 known moons, and Europa is one of Jupiter's four large Galilean moons of the 95 moons it has. Several studies have suggested that there could be vast liquid water oceans harbouring life on these moons.&nbsp;

They hope that future robotic landers can dig the surface of the moons and set these biosignatures free. This is if they are caught within the icy shells of the moons, according to a study. These biosignatures of life cannot survive if present on the surface, because Europa and Enceladus are constantly bombarded by harsh radiation from the sun. This radiation can kill complex organic molecules.&nbsp;

Talking about landers digging up the surface of the moons, the study says that on Enceladus digging might not even be needed to release these biosignature molecules since they probably survive in shallower ice than on Europa.&nbsp;

"Based on our experiments, the 'safe' sampling depth for amino acids on Europa is almost 8 inches (20 centimetres) at high latitudes of the trailing hemisphere, the hemisphere opposite to the direction of Europa's motion around Jupiter, in the area where the surface hasn't been disturbed much by meteorite impacts," research leader Alexander Pavlov of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a statement.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-photo-shows-jupiters-chaotic-clouds-and-cyclonic-storms-clicked-by-juno-743029">NASA photo shows Jupiter's chaotic clouds and cyclonic storms clicked by Juno</a>

"Subsurface sampling is not required for the detection of amino acids on Enceladus — these molecules will survive radiolysis, breakdown by radiation, at any location on the Enceladus surface less than a tenth of an inch (under a few millimetres) from the surface," he added.&nbsp;

In fact, humans might not even have to land a rover on Enceladus to catch the biosignature molecules. Its icy shells throw up dramatic plumes that can be directly captured by an orbiting mission.&nbsp;

<h2>Problems on the moons</h2>

The hope for life on these moons is marred by the fact that they sustain quite a few harsh incidents regularly. They are cold and frigid, have no atmosphere and are regularly hit by energetic particles and radiation from the sun. Supernovas happening beyond the solar system release powerful cosmic rays that also bombard the moons.&nbsp;

But the likelihood of the presence of liquid water oceans beneath the thick icy shell surfaces of Europa and Enceladus has excited scientists for a long time. The icy shells protect the oceans against harsh particles and radiation, with geothermal heat generated by the gravitational tug of their planets and the moons able to heat them. This combination of factors has instilled hope about the survival of life on these moons.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Europa and Enceladus are the two moons in our solar system where astronomers believe life can exist. Now they say that complex organic molecules like amino acids and nucleic acids, the "biosignatures" of life, on these worlds could be present just below their frozen surfaces.

Europa and Enceladus are the two moons in our solar system where astronomers believe life can exist. Now they say that complex organic molecules like amino acids and nucleic acids, the "biosignatures" of life, on these worlds could be present just below their frozen surfaces. Enceladus is one of Saturn's 146 known moons, and Europa is one of Jupiter's four large Galilean moons of the 95 moons it has. Several studies have suggested that there could be vast liquid water oceans harbouring life on these moons. They hope that future robotic landers can dig the surface of the moons and set these biosignatures free. This is if they are caught within the icy shells of the moons, according to a study. These biosignatures of life cannot survive if present on the surface, because Europa and Enceladus are constantly bombarded by harsh radiation from the sun. This radiation can kill complex organic molecules. Talking about landers digging up the surface of the moons, the study says that on Enceladus digging might not even be needed to release these biosignature molecules since they probably survive in shallower ice than on Europa. "Based on our experiments, the 'safe' sampling depth for amino acids on Europa is almost 8 inches (20 centimetres) at high latitudes of the trailing hemisphere, the hemisphere opposite to the direction of Europa's motion around Jupiter, in the area where the surface hasn't been disturbed much by meteorite impacts," research leader Alexander Pavlov of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a statement. Also Read: NASA photo shows Jupiter's chaotic clouds and cyclonic storms clicked by Juno "Subsurface sampling is not required for the detection of amino acids on Enceladus — these molecules will survive radiolysis, breakdown by radiation, at any location on the Enceladus surface less than a tenth of an inch (under a few millimetres) from the surface," he added. In fact, humans might not even have to land a rover on Enceladus to catch the biosignature molecules. Its icy shells throw up dramatic plumes that can be directly captured by an orbiting mission. Problems on the moons The hope for life on these moons is marred by the fact that they sustain quite a few harsh incidents regularly. They are cold and frigid, have no atmosphere and are regularly hit by energetic particles and radiation from the sun. Supernovas happening beyond the solar system release powerful cosmic rays that also bombard the moons. But the likelihood of the presence of liquid water oceans beneath the thick icy shell surfaces of Europa and Enceladus has excited scientists for a long time. The icy shells protect the oceans against harsh particles and radiation, with geothermal heat generated by the gravitational tug of their planets and the moons able to heat them. This combination of factors has instilled hope about the survival of life on these moons.

NASA wants to release biosignatures of life from icy shells of Europa and Enceladus

europa-moon

Europa Moon, News on Europa Moon, stories on Europa Moon, articles on Europa Moon, Europa Moon stories at Wion, Europa Moon news, Europa Moon latest news

europa moon

Giant 'spider' right in the middle of Europa's Manannán crater proof of water? Scientists say...

Could humans survive on Europa?

NASA wants to release biosignatures of life from icy shells of Europa and Enceladus