juno1

‘Ocean of Fire’: Juno data says Io’s magma sea may never have existed

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

BT LOGO
Nasa juno volacanoITG 1735632110565

Ocean Disputed

Juno’s latest data challenges the idea of a global magma ocean on Io, showing the volcanic moon’s interior is more solid than scientists believed.

AdobeStock_1219449218

Molten Myth?

For years, Io’s extreme volcanic activity was blamed on an underground magma sea, but new tidal deformation measurements suggest no such global ocean exists.

AdobeStock_1219449699

Solid Surprise

Rather than sloshing magma, Io’s mantle appears mostly solid, reshaping how scientists think Jupiter’s gravitational pull heats this violent moon.

AdobeStock_1293099016

Volcano Mystery

If there’s no magma ocean, how does Io remain the most volcanic body in the solar system? Juno’s data sparks new theories about hidden heat sources.

Juno flybyITG 1735632309747

Gravity’s Limits

Jupiter’s tidal forces, long thought to melt Io’s insides, might not be enough to sustain a global ocean of magma — hinting at a more complex planetary interior.

juno1

Deep Unknowns

Though Juno rules out a shallow magma ocean, scientists still wonder if deeper magma pockets could fuel Io’s violent eruptions — a mystery left unsolved.

Nasa juno volacanoITG 1735632110565

Planetary Rethink

Io’s lack of a magma ocean forces scientists to rethink tidal heating on other moons like Europa and Enceladus, where hidden oceans are still suspected.

Juno Illustration 640x480 1 jpg

Juno’s Revelation

NASA’s Juno spacecraft, designed to study Jupiter, unexpectedly rewrote Io’s story, showing that even the most volcanic moon may lack an underground sea of fire.

AdobeStock_1219449699

Volcanic Paradox

If Io is solid inside, what drives its relentless volcanic eruptions? The answer could reshape what we know about how planets and moons generate heat.