As NASA’s Europa Clipper sets off on its remarkable mission to Jupiter’s frozen moon Europa, Dr. Matt Powell-Palm from Texas A&M University’s J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering has presented pioneering research that could reshape our comprehension of icy ocean worlds throughout the solar system. The study, published in Nature Communications and co-authored with planetary scientist Dr. Baptiste Journaux from the University of Washington, reveals an innovative thermodynamic idea termed the “centotectic” and explores the stability of liquids under extreme conditions — vital insights that will help assess the habitability of icy moons like Europa.
Transforming the Search for Habitability
The study of icy ocean worlds signifies a new chapter in planetary science, particularly concerning the exploration of these environments and their ability to sustain life. Powell-Palm’s research tackles a key issue in this domain: what conditions allow liquid water to remain stable on these remote, frozen celestial bodies? By establishing and measuring the centotectic, the lowest temperature at which a liquid remains stable under different pressures and concentrations, the researchers provide an essential basis for interpreting data gathered from planetary exploration missions.
This research merges Powell-Palm’s knowledge in cryobiology — focusing on the low-temperature properties of water that initially revolved around medical uses such as organ preservation for transplants — with Journaux’s specialization in planetary science and high-pressure water-ice systems. Their collaboration creates a multidisciplinary framework to address one of the most intriguing challenges in planetary science.
“With NASA’s Europa Clipper launching, marking the largest planetary exploration mission to date, we are about to enter a lengthy phase dedicated to exploring cold and icy ocean worlds. Data from this and similar missions will reveal insights into the ocean’s depth and its makeup,” Journaux noted. “By combining lab measurements of liquid stability, particularly the newly defined centotectic, with mission discoveries, we can gauge the habitability and ultimate fate of the frigid and deep ocean environments in our solar system after their moons or planets have fully cooled down.”
A Legacy of Innovation in Space Research at Texas A&M
The investigation was carried out at Texas A&M, spearheaded by mechanical engineering graduate student Arian Zarriz. This work embodies Texas A&M’s rich expertise in water-ice dynamics and its longstanding tradition of excellence in space research encompassing multiple fields. With the recent establishment of the Texas A&M Space Institute, the university is well-positioned to significantly contribute to space exploration, fostering intellectual leadership for missions that challenge the limits of human understanding.
“Investigating icy worlds is a major focus for both NASA and the European Space Agency, as shown by the recent surge of spacecraft launches,” Powell-Palm remarked. “We aspire for Texas A&M to play a vital role in providing intellectual guidance in this arena.”
Future Prospects
As missions aiming at icy moons grow and advance our knowledge of the solar system, researchers at Texas A&M and beyond are gearing up to process the vast amount of data these missions will yield. By integrating experimental work like that of Powell-Palm and Journaux with findings from these missions, scientists hope to uncover the mysteries of cold, ocean-harboring worlds and assess their capacity to support life.
