New research based on data collected by NASA's Juno spacecraft suggests that there is less oxygen on the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa than previously thought. This finding could have implications for the potential habitability of the moon's underground ocean, where scientists believe microbial life may be thriving.

The study, published in Nature Astronomy and led by James Szalay of Princeton University, reveals that between 13 to 39 pounds of oxygen are produced every second at Europa's surface. This is a significantly lower amount than previous estimates, which had suggested as much as 2,245 pounds of oxygen being produced per second. The oxygen is formed, along with hydrogen, as Jupiter's radiation interacts with Europa's frozen water shell.

NASA scientist Kevin Hand, who was not involved in the study, noted that more research is needed to confirm these findings. However, the data collected by Juno during a close flyby of Europa in 2022 - a distance of just 219 miles - provides valuable insights into the moon's environment.

Szalay described Juno's flyby as the first time a spacecraft "directly sniffed" Europa's surroundings, allowing researchers to gain a better understanding of the moon's complex environment. While the new measurements suggest a narrower range of oxygen production, there is still much to be learned about how this oxygen interacts with Europa's atmosphere, ice, and underground ocean.

NASA plans to launch the Europa Clipper spacecraft this fall, which will make numerous close flybys of Europa while orbiting Jupiter. These upcoming missions will provide further opportunities to study the moon and potentially uncover more secrets about its potential for hosting life.