Cosmic rays may fuel Mars and icy moons

High-energy cosmic rays were once considered to be the enemy of life and may be its unlikely ally.

A new study from the University of Abu Dhabi at New York University shows that galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) that penetrate Mars, Europa and Esserades’ subfaces may trigger enough energy to support chemical reactions deep in microbial life. This discovery introduces the concept of a “radioactive habitable zone” that may be increasingly far away from sunlight rather than being powered by stars or volcanoes, but cosmic radiation destroys water molecules to release available energy.

The possibility of cosmic radiation and hidden ecosystems

Leaded by astrophysicist Dimitra Atri, the research team at NYU ABU DABHI’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences (CASS) mimics the interaction of cosmic rays with groundwater or ice. When GCR strikes these molecules, they initiate a process called Radiation decompositionproduces reactive species such as electrons and hydrogen. Some terrestrial microorganisms – e.g. Desulforudis audaxviator In South Africa’s gold mines – it’s already possible to survive, without sunlight and rely on energy caused by radiation.

Using the Geant4 simulation toolkit, ATRI’s team calculated the energy that this radiodecomposition process could deliver on three major astrobiological targets: Mars, Jupiter’s moon Europa, and Saturn’s icy moon land. The results are surprising. Ecceladus stands out and provides the most important energy for underground microbial metabolism, followed by Mars and Europa.

Major findings from the study

• Enceladus can support the highest density of microbial life spans driven by cosmic ray radiation dissolution
• Mars’ underground has hope under its ice-covered polar cap
• Europa’s oxidizer and internal CO₂ Chemical reactions that may be fueled by metabolism
• Propose “radioactive livable zone” as a new framework for alien life
• GCR provides energy sufficient to maintain basic metabolic functions

Rethinking the boundaries of life

“This discovery has changed the way we think about the ways in which life might exist,” Atri said. “We can now consider cold and dark places instead of just looking for warm planets, as long as they have some water under the surface and are exposed to cosmic rays.”

Unlike the classic “Goldilocks region,” the focus of this region is on the distance of liquid water on the surface from the stars, and the radioactive habitable area considers whether groundwater can be energized by ionizing radiation. Since cosmic rays are spread throughout the Milky Way, the model greatly broadens the scope of potential life support environments.

From Mars to Moons: Search Below the Surface

On Mars, the ancient lake bed suggests that there was once a terrible past. Nowadays, any life may need to retreat below the ground. The study determined that about 0.6 meters below the Martian ground is the optimal depth for maximum energy deposition of cosmic rays to potentially support bacterial metabolism.

For Europa and descendants, the liquid ocean is located under a thick ice shell, and the depths pointing to 1 to 2 meters are calculated as a hot spot for radiodissolving energy. The turrets and their geysers and feathers also appear to have higher levels of organic molecules and possible electron donors (such as acetate).

The next step to explore

These findings have had a significant impact on the upcoming mission. NASA’s Europa Clippers And ESA’s exommars The rover can be reproduced to detect signs of radioactive life under the cold or rocky crust. Similarly, the proposal Born and raised The task may benefit from thin ice areas that are more likely to penetrate by cosmic rays.

In these shadowed realms, life may not be photosynthesised, but can still persist – the invisible hand of cosmic radiation, capturing electrons and making metabolic molecules in total darkness.

Journal Information

Posted in International Astronomy Journal July 28, 2025
title: Estimate the potential of ionizing radiation-induced radiation decomposition on microbial metabolism on terrestrial planets and satellites with rare earth atmosphere
Author: Dimitra Atri, Margaret Kamenetskiy, Michael May, Archide Kalra, Aida Castelblanco, Antony Quiñones-Camacho
doi: 10.1017/s1473550425100025

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