Scientists have long believed that Earth is unique in its geological activity, but a new study suggests that Venus may be more dynamic than previously thought. Decades-old data from NASA’s Magellan probe has revealed evidence of active tectonics on Venus, including dozens of circular volcanic features called coronae.
The findings, published in Science Advances, provide some of the best evidence to date for tectonic activity on Venus. This challenges the long-held assumption that Venus is a lifeless world with minimal geological processes.
“We should think of tectonics as not just a black-and-white picture,” says Anna Gülcher, co-lead author of the study from the University of Bern in Switzerland. The discovery suggests that Venus works differently than Earth, but not as differently as previously assumed.
The research highlights the importance of re-examining existing data and challenging long-held assumptions about our closest neighbor in the solar system. This finding opens up new possibilities for understanding Venus’ geology and its potential habitability.
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-formations-on-venus-hint-at-ongoing-geological-activity