The idea of oceans boiling beneath the icy crusts of moons like Enceladus or Miranda sounds more like the plot of a sci-fi movie than a scientific discovery. Yet, recent research has shown that this phenomenon may not only be possible but also pivotal in shaping the geological features of these frozen worlds. The intersection of physics, astronomy, and geology behind it is fascinating, but as a female entrepreneur from Europe, my curiosity lies in how this relates to problem-solving, creativity, and resilience, skills every founder needs to succeed.
How small icy moons end up with boiling oceans
The concept stems from the bizarre physics of water in extreme conditions. On these icy moons, layers of ice sit on vast subsurface oceans. These oceans exist because the gravity from their host planet generates internal heat during the moon’s orbit. Gravitational forces stretch and flex the interior of the moon, producing friction and warming it enough to melt the ice into liquid water. But here’s the twist: as the ice melts into less-dense water, the upper boundary of the ocean is left under significantly less pressure.
On smaller moons with lower overall gravitational pull, like Saturn’s Mimas or Uranus’s Miranda, this pressure throughout the ocean can drop so much that water reaches its so-called triple point. At the triple point, solid, liquid, and vapor co-exist. Boiling can then occur even at freezing temperatures, an almost counterintuitive idea compared to your kettle back on Earth.
The implications don’t stop there. This boiling process can potentially explain visible geological formations like ridges, cliffs, or even geysers. Saturn’s moon Enceladus, for example, has an active ocean that vents water vapor and particles into space through cracks at the South Pole, creating its famous “tiger stripes.”
If you’re wondering why larger moons like Europa aren’t prone to such phenomena, it’s due to stronger gravity maintaining higher pressure. The challenges and outcomes vary depending on scale, and that’s a point that translates well into entrepreneurship.
Lessons for female founders from icy moons
As a founder with years of experience navigating the startup ecosystem across Europe, I see parallels between the science of boiling oceans and the daily realities of managing a business. Physics aside, the story is one of adaptation to pressures and unique environments, which we as entrepreneurs encounter constantly.
1. Big challenges often lead to unexpected solutions
Just as boiling on icy moons arises in conditions we wouldn’t expect, your biggest breakthroughs can emerge from moments or areas of your business under the most stress. When Mimas’s ice crust thins to release the pressure, its oceans reveal opportunities for spectacular surface changes. Similarly, businesses sometimes need external forces, like investor demands or market changes, to pull out creativity we didn’t know was there.
2. Smaller scale can be an advantage
Enceladus and Mimas are more geologically active because their smaller size makes them more sensitive to pressure changes. Founders of small, agile startups often have this very edge, we’re fast, adaptive, and able to pivot with far less resistance compared to larger corporations.
3. Boiling under pressure leads to movement, not failure
For those moons, the boiling isn’t destructive, it drives dynamism, encourages fresh formations, and even sustains the processes scientists are so anxious to study. If you frame your own boiling-point moments as creative catalysts, boardroom “crises” become sparks for new milestones.
Common mistakes women entrepreneurs make, and how these lessons apply
Over the years, I’ve seen founders in Europe, particularly women, trip over the same misunderstandings regarding scalability, pressure, and resilience. Here’s where icy moons can teach us more than just science:
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Believing more resources mean smoother innovation
Bigger entities like Europa’s moon don’t face the same “boiling” challenges, but they also don’t reveal as many exciting geological processes. In startups, this translates to the idea that more funding or resources don’t automatically produce new energy or progress. Resist the myth that growth alone solves problems. -
Failing to embrace pressure points
Founders often see high-pressure situations with investors or competitors as purely negative. But just as external gravitational forces reshape moons, those tough conversations or competitive pushes create opportunities to redraw your trajectory entirely. -
Not recognizing the value of friction
Much like how tidal forces between moons and planets produce heat, friction, whether it’s internal team conflicts, resource constraints, or client demands, often generates the momentum your business needs to thrive.
A practical guide for thriving under pressure
To make sure melting pressures, much like those on Mimas or Miranda, propel your business forward rather than causing cracks in its foundation, consider this approach:
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Know when to let the ice layer melt: Take stock of areas in your business where constraints or rigid systems create bottlenecks. Allow smaller layers to “thin” through changes in processes, team roles, or strategies.
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Measure but act quickly: Volcanic activity on icy moons happens in bursts, and whether you’re launching a new product or navigating a tough pivot, timing is everything. Waiting too long to act under pressure can lead to exploding geysers rather than manageable shifts.
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Accept unpredictability: You can calculate, model, and plan, but as boiling oceans teach us, unexpected physics still governs everything. For women entrepreneurs, flexibility isn’t just important; it’s an asset that your competitors might underestimate.
Beyond science: How to apply this outlook to your daily grind
For entrepreneurs bootstrapping their startups (something I personally embrace through the Fe/Male Switch platform), icy moons offer an unlikely metaphor for progress: we’re all orbiting in our own ecosystems, under unique gravitational pulls, stretching and shattering in cycles of growth and adaptation.
The next time you encounter what feels like professional friction, think of it as your own version of gravitational stress. What might boil to the surface could redefine how you work, lead, and innovate.
If you’re curious about strategies for moving forward when the pressure's on, check out Startup Incubators for European Women Entrepreneurs or turn to platforms like Fe/Male Switch’s Start-Up Game. Learning how to gamify stress and change the rules entirely may very well be your version of reaching the stars, starting with an icy moon.
Stepping back from the boiling depths of icy moons, isn’t that the essence of what we do as entrepreneurs? We operate under tension, harness kinetic forces to fuel our businesses, and mold obstacles into assets. For me, this mirrors the creative energy that comes from multi-disciplinary thinking. Saying that the idea of warming oceans resonates with me wouldn't be accurate, because if the past five years of entrepreneurship have taught me anything, it’s that genuine learning is never lukewarm. It’s pressure and boiling that create something new and worthwhile.
FAQ
1. What causes the subsurface oceans on small icy moons to boil?
Subsurface oceans boil due to a drop in pressure from melting ice layers. When the ice transitions to liquid water, the pressure decreases, and smaller moons like Enceladus or Miranda can reach the triple point where water exists as ice, liquid, and vapor. Learn more about boiling oceans on icy moons
2. How does gravity affect the formation of boiling oceans on icy moons?
The gravitational pull from a host planet generates tidal heating. This flexing of the moon’s interior creates friction and heat, causing the ice to melt and potentially resulting in boiling when ice shells thin. Read about gravity and boiling oceans
3. Why do smaller moons experience boiling oceans more often than larger moons?
Smaller moons have weaker gravity, leading to significant pressure drops when melting occurs. This makes it easier for the subsurface water to reach its triple point compared to larger moons like Europa, where gravitational forces keep the pressure high. Discover more about moon size and boiling oceans
4. Which moons are most likely to have boiling oceans?
Moons such as Saturn’s Enceladus and Mimas, as well as Uranus’s Miranda, are the best candidates due to their smaller size and ability to experience dramatic pressure drops. Explore which moons may have boiling oceans
5. What are some visible features resulting from subsurface boiling?
Boiling can lead to geological phenomena such as ridges, surface cracks, cliffs, and geyser-like behavior. Enceladus displays these features in its “tiger stripes,” where water and vapor escape into space. Learn about the geology of boiling oceans
6. What conditions are required to reach the triple point where boiling occurs?
The triple point is reached when the pressure and temperature create an equilibrium allowing ice, liquid water, and vapor to coexist. On icy moons, this may occur when ice layers thin to release subsurface pressure. Check out insights on the triple point
7. How does tidal heating contribute to subsurface oceans?
Tidal heating occurs when gravitational interactions between moons and their planets generate internal flexing. This process consistently warms the interior, keeping subsurface water in liquid form. Understand tidal heating in icy moons
8. Are there examples of active geysers caused by boiling oceans?
Yes, Saturn’s moon Enceladus is a prime example. It has active water geysers venting from its surface cracks, propelled by subsurface boiling processes. Discover Enceladus’s active geysers
9. Could boiling in subsurface oceans support the formation of life?
Boiling oceans may enhance habitability by creating dynamic environments where water and essential compounds circulate, potentially developing chemical processes that support life. Learn about habitability in boiling oceans
10. How do researchers study these phenomena on distant icy moons?
Scientists use computer simulations, observations from spacecraft like Voyager 2 and Cassini, and data from gravitational models to understand how subsurface oceans behave under varying conditions. Explore how researchers study icy moons
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
