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

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

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.

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.

Solid Surprise

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

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.

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.

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.

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’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.

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.