University Chancellor Predicts "Higher Forms of Life" on Europa

She says the icy moon could host life "perhaps similar to the intelligence of an octopus."

Doctor Octopus

Monica Grady, the chancellor at Liverpool Hope University in the UK, says it's likely there's advanced alien life on Jupiter's moon Europa, according to a recent statement.

"If there is something on Mars, it's likely to be very small — bacteria," she said. "But I think we've got a better chance of having slightly higher forms of life on Europa, perhaps similar to the intelligence of an octopus."

Big Tentacle

Grady believes creatures could be living in glacial oceans underneath a hard shell of ice that's up to 15 miles thick on Jupiter's frigid moon.

Scientists have long suspected the existence of these deep subsurface oceans on Europa — and maybe even life. In fact, NASA announced in August that it’s completing the final designs for a Europa-bound spacecraft called Europa Clipper, which will look for signs of life.

Under the Sea

As far as the existence of other human-like aliens in our own solar system, Grady is not optimistic.

"I'm fairly certain we're all there is at our level of intelligence in this planetary system," she said. "And even if there are octopuses on Europa, that doesn't give us a reason to destroy our planet."

READ MORE: 'Racing certainty' there's life on Europa and Mars, says leading UK space scientist [Liverpool Hope University]

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