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阅读判断 Europas watery underworld Europa, one of Jupiters 63 known moons, looks bright and icy on the surface. But appearances can be deceiving: Miles within its cracked, frigid shell, Europa probably hides giant pools of liquid water. Where scientists find liquid water, they hope to find life as well. Since we cant go diving into Europas depths just yet, scientists instead have to investigate the moons surface for clues to what lies beneath. In a new study, scientists investigated one group of strange ice patterns on Europa and concluded that the formations mark the top of an underground pool that holds as much water as the U.S. Great Lakes. Pictures of Europa, which is slightly smaller than Earths moon, clearly show a tangled, icy mishmash of lines and cracks known as chaos terrains. These chaotic places cover more than half of Europa. For more than 10 years, scientists have wondered what causes the formations. The new study suggests that they arise from the mixing of vast underground stores of liquid water with icy material near the surface. For scientists who suspect that Europa also may be hiding life beneath its icy surface, the news about the new lake is exciting. It would be great if these lakes harbored life, Britney Schmidt, a planetary scientist who worked on the study, told Science News. But even if they didnt, they say that Europa is doing something interesting and active right now. | 
