/ Moons of Uranus may contain life, study suggests

Scientists have unveiled new research suggesting that Uranus and its five largest moons may harbour oceans beneath their icy crusts, challenging previous notions that these distant celestial bodies are barren and inactive. This revelation, derived from a re-analysis of data collected nearly four decades ago, has sparked renewed excitement about the possibility of life beyond Earth, particularly on Uranian.
The initial data on Uranus and its moons were gathered during a historic flyby by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986. The probe provided humanity with its first up-close look at the gas giant and its moon system, revealing a world that was, at the time, thought to be cold, sterile, and geologically inactive. However, scientists now believe that a powerful solar storm during Voyager 2’s flyby may have distorted their findings, leading to a skewed view of the Uranian system.
The study, published in Nature Astronomy, utilised modern analytical techniques to revisit the data captured during Voyager 2’s mission. The findings indicate that gases trapped by Uranus’s magnetic field may, in fact, originate from the moons themselves, hinting at internal heat sources and liquid oceans beneath their frozen surfaces.
One of the moons that has captured the interest of scientists is Miranda, the smallest of Uranus’s major moons. Voyager 2’s images of Miranda showcased a heavily fractured surface, suggesting tectonic activity. The new research hints that Miranda, along with the other four largest moons, could potentially host oceans beneath their icy exteriors.
Plans are underway for a dedicated mission, the Uranus Orbiter and Probe, set to launch within the next decade, with an expected arrival around 2045.