---
title: "University Chancellor Predicts “Higher Forms of Life” on Europa"
description: "Monica Grady, a professor at Liverpool Hope University, claims that there is \"almost a racing certainty\" there's alien life on Jupiter's moon Europa."
date: "2020-02-07"
modified: "2020-02-07"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/researcher-higher-forms-of-life-europa"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Exobiology"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "alien life"
  - "europa"
  - "the digest"
---

# University Chancellor Predicts “Higher Forms of Life” on Europa

![Monica Grady, a professor at Liverpool Hope University, claims that there is "almost a racing certainty" there's alien life on Jupiter's moon Europa.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/researcher-higher-forms-of-life-europa.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Image via Pxhere/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## 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](<https://phys.org/news/2020-02-certainty-life-europa-mars-uk.html>).

"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](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/jupiter-moon-europa-saltwater-support-life>) the existence of these deep subsurface oceans on Europa — and maybe even life. In fact, NASA [announced](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/europa-clippers-mission-to-jupiter-s-icy-moon-confirmed>) 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](<https://phys.org/news/2020-02-certainty-life-europa-mars-uk.html>) \[Liverpool Hope University\]

**More on Europa:** *[Scientists Confirm Water Vapor Above the Surface of Europa](<https://futurism.com/scientists-confirm-water-vapor-europa>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)