Signs of life on Venus? Phosphine gas clouds detected on neighbour planet spark hope

A gas present on Earth which is called phosphine, has been detected in atmosphere of Venus, hinting towards unkwn processes occurring on planet, suggests a study authored by Cardiff University professor Jane Greaves and her colleagues which was published in journal Nature Astromy. It is phosphine that indicates presence of life on earth. Also, idea of aerial life in clouds of venus is fascinating but highly unlikely. 

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Phosphine gas found on Venus?

Venus is of a similar size to earth and is often considered as Earth’s twin. However, in reality it is an unusual planet that scientists are trying to study. Study co-author and astrophysicist and planetary scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Techlogy, Sara Ser, said “Something completely unexpected and highly intriguing is happening on Venus to produce unexpected presence of tiny amounts of phosphine gas”. Venus is planet that spins backwards and its thick atmosphere helps in trapping heat. 

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According to study, researchers used James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii in year 2017 and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in 2019 to study planet in detail. It was n concluded that re is a spectral signature unique to traces of phosphine in planet's atmosphere.

According to scientists, approximately 20 parts-per-billion of gas is present in Venus' clouds. Ser said that researchers came out with some extreme possibilities. She said, “(One) is that some unkwn chemistry is occurring in Venus atmosphere, surface, or subsurface," she said in an email statement.

"We find this explanation tough to accept because (of) Venus's temperature and pressure range and fact that Venus has nearly zero hydrogens mean(s) phosphine is t natural form of element phosphorus. Inste phosphorus should be present as phosphates," she ded. 

Research in future could indicate reason causing gas in atmosphere. However, this can be considered as an indication of chemical processes happening on planet.

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(Im Credits: Nasa.gov)