ORGANIC-MATTER FINDING BOOSTS CHANCE FOR LIFE ON JUPITER MOON.

Byline: Associated Press 

The discovery of organic compounds on two of Jupiter's moons increases the possibility that all of the elements for life are present on another of the planet's moons, Europa.

The finding, from instruments on the Galileo spacecraft orbiting Jupiter, suggests that Europa may have all three of the ingredients scientists consider essential for life: an energy source, liquid water and organic molecules, said planetary scientist Thomas B. McCord of the University of Hawaii.

``This doesn't mean there is life on Europa,'' said McCord, lead author of a study to be published today in the journal Science. ``The exciting thing now is the evidence that Europa may have all three of the ingredients.''

Europa already is known to have water and internal heat sources.

Dale Cruikshank, a research scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Ames Research Center, said the work of McCord and his team should sharpen the research concentration on Europa, which already ``is the subject of very special interest.''

``This finding increases the plausibility for life on Europa,'' Cruikshank said. ``It also supports the idea that there were organic molecules streaming throughout the solar system.''

The study of Jupiter's moons is part of a growing effort by astronomers and planetary experts to find evidence of life within the solar system, particularly on Mars.

A major goal of NASA's Mars exploration, for example, is to search for the fingerprints of life on the Red Planet. Researchers have determined that Mars once had vast pools of water and there is speculation this could have led to the evolution of life. Some believe there may be evidence of life in frozen underground water.