Final answer:
Europa's potential to harbor extraterrestrial life stems from its massive ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust. The presence of liquid water and constant activity on Europa's surface make it a promising candidate for life beyond Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Extraterrestrial life refers to the existence of living organisms beyond Earth. Scientists explore this possibility through astrobiology, searching for conditions suitable for life on other planets or celestial bodies. The search includes studying extremophiles on Earth and detecting biosignatures in the atmospheres of exoplanets.
Jupiter's moon, Europa, may surpass Earth in its potential to harbor extraterrestrial life. Scientists believe that Europa has a massive ocean of salty liquid water beneath its icy crust. The presence of liquid water, along with constant activity and motion on Europa's surface, suggest that it could be a cradle of life. NASA is planning a mission called Europa Clipper to further study Europa's liquid ocean and ice crust, in hopes of finding direct evidence for microbial life.