As NASA’s Europa Clipper embarks on its historic mission to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, Dr. Matt Powell-Palm from Texas A&M University has introduced research that could reshape our understanding of icy ocean worlds across the solar system.

Published in Nature Communications and co-authored with Dr. Baptiste Journaux from the University of Washington, the study unveils a novel thermodynamic concept called the "cenotectic." This breakthrough investigates the stability of liquids under extreme conditions, offering critical insights into the habitability of icy moons like Europa.

The exploration of icy ocean worlds represents a cutting-edge frontier in planetary science, focusing on their potential to support life. Powell-Palm’s research tackles a foundational question: under what conditions can liquid water persist on these distant, frozen bodies?

By defining the cenotectic—the lowest temperature at which a liquid remains stable under varying pressures and concentrations—the team has created a framework essential for interpreting data from planetary exploration missions.

This interdisciplinary study bridges cryobiology and planetary science. Powell-Palm’s expertise in low-temperature thermodynamics, initially applied to medical fields like organ preservation, complements Journaux’s knowledge of high-pressure water-ice systems. Together, they’ve developed a model to address one of planetary science’s most intriguing challenges.

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“With the launch of NASA Europa Clipper, the largest planetary exploration mission ever, we are entering an era of discovery for cold, icy ocean worlds,” said Journaux. “Data from these missions will reveal ocean depths and compositions. Combined with laboratory measurements, such as the cenotectic, we can determine the habitability of these cold, deep oceans and their eventual fate as the moons or planets cool entirely.”

The research, conducted at Texas A&M, was led by graduate student Arian Zarriz and reflects the university’s longstanding expertise in water-ice systems and space science.

“The study of icy worlds is a priority for both NASA and the European Space Agency, as seen in the surge of recent and upcoming missions,” Powell-Palm explained.

As planetary exploration missions expand, researchers at Texas A&M and beyond are preparing to analyze the wealth of data they will provide. By integrating experimental findings like those of Powell-Palm and Journaux with mission results, scientists aim to uncover the secrets of ocean-bearing worlds and evaluate their potential for harboring life.