- Researchers announced the discovery of a rare molecule of phosphine in the clouds on Venus. Its source can be biological organisms found in clouds
- – It is believed that Venus may have been similar to Earth in the past. It could have had a favorable climate, but the greenhouse effect brought it into the current situation, which is a warning for us – notes Dr. Weronika Śliwa
- – As you can see, there are some clues pointing to Venusian life, but it is not yet possible to say which way the solution to this cosmic puzzle will lean into – he estimates
An international research group with the participation of a Pole, announced the discovery of a rare molecule of phosphine (phosphine) in the clouds on Venus. The observed amount rather excludes non-biological processes as the source of this substance. Perhaps the source could be biological organisms found in the clouds.
The research has been published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy and has also been reported by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). An additional publication will be published soon in “Astrobiology”. The scientists emphasize that the discovery does not automatically mean that an alien life has been found on the planet Venus.
– The search for life on a planet other than Earth has been going on for a long time. The most obvious candidate here is Mars. Venus, on the other hand, did not seem promising, says Dr. Weronika Śliwa, head of the planetarium at the Copernicus Science Center, to Onet. – This is due to the fact that the conditions there are simply “hellish”. The surface temperature is approx. 460 degrees C, lead would melt there. The atmosphere is 100 times denser than Earth’s, and has a rather hostile composition, because it consists mainly of carbon dioxide with nitrogen, and there is essentially no oxygen in it. In addition, there is very little water vapor, but there is quite a lot of sulfuric acid from which clouds form, he explains.
– However, it is believed that Venus may have been similar to Earth in the past. It could have oceans and a climate that was favorable to life, but the greenhouse effect brought it into the current situation, which is a warning for us – remarks Dr. Weronika Śliwa.
As he adds, “there has long been speculation that some life may exist in cloud layers, at an altitude of about 50 km above the surface, where conditions are more tolerable.” – The temperature is between ten and twenty degrees Celsius and the atmospheric pressure is also close to the Earth’s level. Therefore, there was a thought to search for traces of life there, perhaps one that might have existed on the surface of the planet before, under more favorable conditions. Later, the microorganisms could break up in the cloud layer, he explains.
– On the other hand, there have been numerous papers in which the following question has been considered: if we start to study distant planets, how do we actually know that life can exist on them? Thus, the concept of biomarkers was created – certain gases in the atmospheres of planets, the presence of which would indicate the existence of life in some way similar to the earth – says Dr. Śliwa.
The head of the planetarium at the Copernicus Science Center reminds that phosphine has recently joined the group of biomarkers. “This gas appears on Earth in places where it can be produced by microorganisms that do not need oxygen to grow,” he explains. “The Venetian atmosphere was looked at and it turned out that this gas is present in such a concentration that there are currently no well-founded theories as to how it could be formed inorganically. The possibility arises that there are indeed some phosphine-producing organisms in the Venusian clouds. Only that it is not sure at all for now, we simply cannot explain the origin of this gas in any other way – says Dr. Weronika Śliwa to Onet.
Scientists should now concentrate their efforts on two things, he explains. – In the long run, of course, on examining the matter “on the spot” and checking whether such organisms are actually there. At the moment, however, on a further search for inorganic sources of Venusian phosphine, he says.
– As you can see, there are some clues to Venusian life, but it is not yet possible to say which way the solution to this cosmic mystery will lean in – he estimates.
We are glad that you are with us. Subscribe to the Onet newsletter to receive the most valuable content from us.
Editor of Onet Wiadomości
—
Have an interesting topic? Write us a letter!
