Salty ice and the dilemma of ocean exoplanet habitability

TL;DR

This paper explores how salt incorporation in high-pressure ice affects chemical transport in deep ocean exoplanets, impacting their potential habitability.

Contribution

It reveals that salt can be efficiently incorporated into high-pressure ice, enabling chemical transport and influencing habitability assessments.

Findings

Salt incorporation facilitates chemical transport in high-pressure ice.

High-pressure ice may not be a complete barrier to nutrient exchange.

Implications for the habitability of ocean exoplanets.

Abstract

Habitability of exoplanet's deepest oceans could be limited by the presence of high-pressure ices at their base. New work demonstrates that efficient chemical transport within deep planetary ice mantles is possible through significant salt incorporation within the high-pressure ice.