Why are scientists looking for life on Europa?

Scientists are looking for life on Europa because it might have ocean under its ice, just like a frozen lake that hides warm water underneath.

Imagine you have a big bowl of ice cream, and under the ice is a warm chocolate sauce, that's kind of what Europa is like. It has an icy surface, but deep down, there could be a big ocean full of liquid water, maybe even water with salt, just like Earth’s oceans.

On Earth, we find life in the oceans, from tiny fish to big whales. If Europa has an ocean too, it might have life as well. Scientists think that if there's liquid water, and some energy (like hot vents on the seafloor), life could start or keep going, just like it does here.

We’ve sent robots to look at Europa from far away, and they've seen clues that ice is moving and maybe even melting. It’s like seeing a frozen lake with cracks and water bubbling up, that makes scientists excited because it means the ocean might be alive!