Venus, often referred to as Earth’s “evil twin” due to its extreme surface temperature and toxic atmosphere, has long been a topic of debate among scientists regarding its potential for life. Researchers have now dealt a significant blow to the idea that Venus ever hosted life as we know it.
A recent study published in Nature Astronomy analyzed the planet’s atmosphere and found that the interior of Venus is dry, suggesting it has never had oceans of liquid water necessary for life to begin. The team, led by Tereza Constantinou from the University of Cambridge, used a combination of data and modeling techniques to shed light on the water content of Venus’ interior.
According to Constantinou, if Venus underwent a runaway greenhouse effect in its early formation, it’s possible that water would have condensed and formed oceans. However, this process would also have trapped water inside the planet, leading to volcanic eruptions with significant water emissions. The study found no evidence of such water-rich volcanoes on Venus.
Instead, the team discovered that most volcanic eruptions on Venus were “dry” and did not release much water into the atmosphere. This finding suggests that the interior of Venus is equally dry, contradicting the idea that it once had surface oceans and a habitable climate.
The researchers’ conclusion has significant implications for our understanding of habitability in the universe. The upcoming DaVinci mission, set to launch later this decade, will provide an opportunity to test these findings and further explore the question of whether Venus might host life in its acidic clouds.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/dec/02/venus-life-water-atmosphere-analysis-science-research