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Space & Astronomy

Biosignature gases in the clouds of Venus hint at presence of alien life

By T.K. Randall
July 20, 2024 · Comment icon 36 comments

Could there be life on Venus ? Image Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Peter Rubin
Scientists have detected two gases indicative of life on Venus and nobody can explain how they got there.
With surface temperatures exceeding 860 degrees and crushing atmospheric pressures that are more than 100 times those found on our own planet, the conditions on Venus are undeniably hellish.

But while the likelihood of finding signs of life on its surface remains low, scientists have long speculated that primitive life forms could potentially eke out an existence high up in the clouds.

Now it seems that the likelihood of this being the case has been given something of a boost thanks to the discovery of what appears to be phosphine and ammonia in the clouds of Venus.

These two gases are typically indicative of life and nobody can find any non-biological process that could account for their presence there.

"Our findings suggest that when the atmosphere is bathed in sunlight the phosphine is destroyed," said Dr Dave Clements of Imperial College London.
"All that we can say is that phosphine is there. We don't know what's producing it."

Despite the excitement surrounding the finds, however, there is no guarantee that the presence of these gases in the atmosphere of Venus means that there is alien life there.

It will also be necessary to determine that the findings themselves are correct.

"If they really confirm phosphine and ammonia robustly it raises the chances of biological origin," said Prof Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridge.

"The natural next thing will be new people will look at it and give support or counter-arguments. The story will be resolved by more data."

"All of this is grounds for optimism. If they can demonstrate the signals are there, good for them."

Source: The Guardian | Comments (36)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #27 Posted by MrAnderson 6 months ago
There are biosignatures on Venues. And these are good indicatiobs that life could still exist at a basic level. Venus and Mars did have a lot of water in the past and probably a biodiversity as seen here on Earth. I cannot convince you of anything. I just have to wait until more data and more knowledge is accumulated. Can you tile out microbial life on Venus or Mars? What about other firms of life?
Comment icon #28 Posted by Ell 6 months ago
Please MrAnderson, I notice that you appear to be in the same class as them highly educated scientists. Go drink a cup of tea with them. If not, I will block you.   I will not have a cup of tea with them.
Comment icon #29 Posted by Grim Reaper 6 6 months ago
If any life exists on Venus it certainly doesn’t exist on the planets surface. It must be confined to clouds far above the surface and I doubt it would consist of anything more than microbial.
Comment icon #30 Posted by MrAnderson 6 months ago
I don't know to be honest. I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of life exists even at the surface such as extremophiles (bacteria or archaea). But life, if it exists, would be microorganisms. To find something more interesting a trip to Europa may do the job.
Comment icon #31 Posted by MrAnderson 6 months ago
Do as you wish. If you don't like conversations there is no point being around. If you don't like other opinions as the ones you have then create an echo chamber and live within it. Create a bubble. The articles posted are not science fiction but rather the findings of scientists who consider the biomarkers as a possible sign of life. And they are. And yes they are scientists like it or not. I don't have any problem with their hypothesis, it's valid. All they need is more evidence. I don't appear to be (answering your question). I am.
Comment icon #32 Posted by Ell 6 months ago
Yes. I did warn you. Sigh. +1
Comment icon #33 Posted by Grim Reaper 6 6 months ago
I certainly agree!
Comment icon #34 Posted by MrAnderson 6 months ago
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/29/science/venus-gases-phosphine-ammonia/index.html Article published on the 29th of July The discovery of a possible sign of life in Venus’ clouds sparked controversy. Now, scientists say they have more proof.  
Comment icon #35 Posted by beyondism 6 months ago
Can't a space agency just send a robot into the clouds of Venus to clear this up one and for all? Microbes in dense Venusian clouds would hardly lead to social unrest.
Comment icon #36 Posted by Grim Reaper 6 6 months ago
They certainly can, but it appears the possibility of life existing on Jupiter’s moons especially Europa. There is a planned mission there in 2030 designed to answer this question.


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