In 1997, Galileo mapped a 400-kilometer patch of Europa; a later analysis found ammonia-bearing compounds near fractures in the ice

Recent examinations of historical Galileo data have uncovered ammonia compounds near the surface fractures of Europa. This discovery points to potential cryovolcanic activity, hinting at a connection between the moon's subsurface ocean and its outer crust. Given that nitrogen, an essential ingredient for life, is abundant in ammonia, this finding significantly enriches our comprehension of Europa's oceanic chemical diversity.