Venus – the second planet from the Sun has not been much of an attention seeker until recently. Astronomers on Earth observed signs of what might be life floating around the clouds of Venus. But the question is – will life sustain on Venus?
The only planet named after the female goddess of love and beauty, the surface of Venus roasts at a temperature of hundreds of degrees (464 °C; 867 °F, to be precise), hot enough to melt lead. The planet is suffocated by thick clouds that carry droplets of sulphuric acid. Although Venus is known as Earth’s ‘twin sister’ because of their similar size, mass, proximity to the Sun, and bulk composition, its deadly combination of a hellish acidic atmosphere, extreme heat, lack of water, and a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere makes the planet inhabitable. Or at least that’s what we thought. But now, astronomers have found something in Venus’ volcanic atmosphere that could hint at a possibility of life. Let’s learn about it.
| The signal from Venus’ clouds that caught everyone’s attention |
On 14 September, an international scientific team spotted the presence of a gas called ‘phosphine’ in the thick atmosphere of Venus. The presence of this gas indicated the possibility of microbes floating in the clouds of Venus. The team used the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii to detect the gas and confirmed it using the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) radio telescope in Chile. If this discovery is confirmed further by additional observations and future space missions, this will surely turn the gaze of scientists towards this long unattended planet for good.
| What is Phosphine? |
Phosphine is a highly toxic and colourless gas with an odour of garlic or decaying fish. Its hyper-reactive nature allows it to break down quickly. On Earth, phosphine is associated with life as it is produced by bacteria that survive without oxygen. For instance, phosphine is associated with microbes living in the guts of animals like penguins, or in oxygen-starved environments like swamps.
For sure, phosphine can be produced in a lab, but there aren’t any laboratories on Venus! And definitely no penguins either (at least that we know of)! Hence, after much analysis, scientists now assert that something ‘alive’ in Venus’ atmosphere is the only explanation for the chemical’s source.
For decades, the search for the existence of life on other planets has been one of the most important pursuits of science. Scientists have used ground-based telescopes and space telescopes to seek signs of extraterrestrial life on planets like Mars and other exoplanets. With Venus now joining the same queue, the possibility of finding life on other planets has expanded. There are a lot of fun facts about Venus that are incredible and hard to believe.
What do you think will happen next? Will scientists succeed in their life-existing hypothesis about Venus? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Comments
Avani Jahagirdar
April 3, 2021
It’s so exciting!!
I’m very curious to read the next update about ” LIFE ON VENUS “.
Tiana chopra
October 27, 2020
I don’t think that life would exist on venus due to its hot
temperature . It might be some unknown chemical reaction . ??
Agnidipta Roy
October 18, 2020
This documents are very interesting and I love this but
I think scientists can’t live on Venus because
The temperature of Venus is too much .
??????????
Hargun Kaur
September 20, 2020
If this will be succeeded then it will be so easier to live on earth and Venus and all the sources will be for population of earth . And there will no poverty and conditions of all countries will be great . I wish this discovery become confirmed. This will a large profit for all of us.
Dhairya Chandak
September 19, 2020
Anuj, the Vedas are just mythical stories and prayers, nothing exists like indra or agni or any other god, they used to imagine gods in nature and worship them. So do we. The solar system is a very small part of the milky way galaxy and the milky way galaxy is a very very small part of the known universe and the known universe is a small part of the whole universe. Now you think how small we are and think couldn’t there be even a single planet except earth having life in such a vast universe
Mourosi Pal
September 19, 2020
I simply can’t believe it!! I hope scientists succeed. I would like to experience how it feels to have one day which is equal to 243 earth days. And yes I would like to meet the aliens too.
Neeraja Rajendra Paranjpe
September 18, 2020
I hope there are aliens on Venus.?
Uday Raj khatri
September 18, 2020
It would be nice if we find some alien neighbors nearby ???
Anuj Sikarwar
September 18, 2020
I want to tell that it is not possible to have life on any other planets other than earth because we need oxygen to live water to drink and vegetables to eat which is only can be grown on earth in earth there are trees which needs carbon dioxide and animals also humans needs oxygen to survive so all they are interlinked this is called ecosystem.
But according to Vedas the God who is are forefather who created this whole world and not only whole world but also whole universe so in the Hindu religion in our Vedas the thing which is written by our God (Brahma Ji) who created this whole world and universe has clearly written his hand notes by himself that there is only one planet that exists life that is our planet (the earth) so the scientists are doing research is very important but none of them can prove the mystery of barmuda triangle which is on the earth so is this possible that they can find life on any planets in space other than earth pls tell ur view on this small article and if u like this article then pls give me sweet reply.
And I’m giving so much thanks to byjus and author for providing me this beautiful article and information.
Thankyou Byjus and author.
Thankyou so much to everyone.
Thankyou to all byy to all and have a good day.
Thanks
Aayush Kumar?
September 17, 2020
I cannot imagine that life can be on Venus.
ABHISAR SINGH ⚡
September 17, 2020
Nice I did’nt know these facts excepting that the Venus is the evening star ! Thank you Byju’s
Deepika
September 17, 2020
Life on venus? it’s really nice…hope scientists succeed in their research and it would really be good if life exists on earth’s twin sister?