Scientists Discover Possible Sign Of Life On Venus In Its Clouds
Rendered image via NASA/JPL-Caltech
A team of astronomers has shared in a paper, published in the Nature Astronomy journal, about potential evidence of life on Venus.
The scientists used telescopes in Hawaii and the Atacama Desert in Chile, around 60 kilometers (45 miles) from the celestial body’s surface, to study its atmosphere.
They then found traces of phosphine, a gas that on Earth often comes from the disintegration of organic matter, hinting that there could be living organisms on the neighboring planet.
NASA has chimed in on the discovery and described it as “the most significant development yet” in the search for extraterrestrial life, though the space agency could not comment further as it was not involved in the research.
Researchers have discovered that the amount of phosphine in Venus's atmosphere is too large to come from abiotic (non-living) sources. Therefore, reason of too much phosphine is that life might exist in the Venus's atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/CwTDY2uQfY
— Astronomy Hub (@AstronomHub) September 14, 2020
[via Kottke, cover image via NASA/JPL-Caltech]
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