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We've Found Possible Signs of Life in Venus's Clouds. Whoa.
.popularmechanics.com ^ | SEP 14, 2020 | JENNIFER LEMAN

Posted on 09/14/2020 5:55:18 PM PDT by bitt

Researchers have discovered the molecule phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus.

The molecule indicates that life may exist in the acidic clouds high above our sister planet.

The discovery of phosphine in the Venusian atmosphere could signal a rejuvenated interest in the planet, which has long been ignored in favor of other locales in the solar system.

A mystery lurks in the clouds high above the stifling surface of our nearest planetary neighbor, Venus. Researchers have announced they've found traces of phosphine, a molecule potentially generated by living things, in the planet's clouds.

Planetary scientists have long speculated that Venus's cloudy atmosphere could harbor life. The surface of Venus is inhospitable, with surface temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Fahrenheit. No probe sent to the planet—and there have been several—has survived for longer than a few hours. But the planet's atmosphere, which is composed of plush layers of sulfuric acid clouds, may present a unique cradle for burgeoning lifeforms.

"We know that the molecule phosphine is a biomarker on Earth," astronomer Jane Greave, of Cardiff University in Wales, said in a pre-recorded statement released by the Royal Astronomical Society. "It's been suggested that there are possible habitats in the cloud decks of Venus, so somewhere where little lifeforms could live."

To be clear, this latest discovery doesn't explicitly confirm the existence of life on another world, but it's the closest we've ever come. The researchers, who published their findings today in the journals Nature Astronomy and Astrobiology, say the only explanations for the molecule are it's either being produced by a living thing, or it's generated through some chemical process currently unknown to science.

(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: astronomy; catastrophism; fauxiantrolls; immanuelvelikovsky; janegreave; jenniferleman; phosphene; phosphine; science; velikovsky; venus
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To: Rocko Jack
We’ve found possible signs of life in Biden’s brain

Impossible.

41 posted on 09/14/2020 6:33:01 PM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: Billthedrill

I vaguely remember “Acid Creatures From Planet Venus” as a 4 part epic spoken word musical jam by Frank Zappa and the Mothers...


42 posted on 09/14/2020 6:33:20 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Joe Biden- "First thing I'd do is repeal those Trump tax cuts." (May 4th, 2019))
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To: bitt

the actual paper is interesting (who cares about popularmechanics), and apparently the idea that there could be microbial life in the venusian atmosphere has been around a while.


43 posted on 09/14/2020 6:38:52 PM PDT by WoofDog123
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To: a fool in paradise

Well, they do have information out there about the clouds on that other planet you mentioned, too.   See, for example, "Uranus Has Stinky Clouds", in "Science News For Students".   (The first sentence in that article is "Uranus stinks.", and they explain in scientific terms why they believe that to be the case in the rest of the article.)


(Somebody had to do it!)       :-)

44 posted on 09/14/2020 6:45:15 PM PDT by Songcraft
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To: Songcraft

All that gas...


45 posted on 09/14/2020 6:49:27 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Joe Biden- "First thing I'd do is repeal those Trump tax cuts." (May 4th, 2019))
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To: bitt

Keyword ....... Possible.


46 posted on 09/14/2020 6:52:46 PM PDT by EnglishOnly (eeWFight all out to win OR get out now. .)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

“ A molecule is a “possible sign of life”, but an unborn baby isn’t.”
Bears repeating.


47 posted on 09/14/2020 7:14:29 PM PDT by Track9 (English language instruction in china is sponsored by the CCP to facilitate espionage.)
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To: WoofDog123

I chose popularmechanics because

a. WSJ and NYT are paywalls

b. I avoid their pompous diatribes whenever possible.


48 posted on 09/14/2020 7:21:26 PM PDT by bitt (Those who learn from the past are condemned to watch everybody else repeat it)
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To: Rebelbase

That was such a great episode of The Twilight Zone.......


49 posted on 09/14/2020 7:21:41 PM PDT by Viking2002 (When aliens fly past Earth, they probably lock their doors.)
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To: a fool in paradise

Gas leak found coming from Uranus.


50 posted on 09/14/2020 7:24:22 PM PDT by Old Yeller (Wuhan virus is the only thing ever made in China that has lasted more than 4 months.)
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To: ConservativeInPA
Sure she wasn’t from Uranus? That’s where the crazies come from, or so I’ve heard 😁
51 posted on 09/14/2020 7:28:08 PM PDT by Spacetrucker (George Washington didn't use his freedom of speech to defeat the British - HE SHOT THEM .. WITH GUNS)
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To: bitt
Before we all get excited about this news:


52 posted on 09/14/2020 7:29:45 PM PDT by spokeshave (White Confederate statue kills black man......Another month of protests.... (HT to seawolf101))
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To: bitt

meh

Nothing conclusive. Nothing unique. Some one is looking for research dollars


53 posted on 09/14/2020 7:53:41 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: wally_bert

....and Ji-Tu Cumbuka as “Torque”!


54 posted on 09/14/2020 8:01:24 PM PDT by Delta 21
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Funny name for a Baptist minister from Helena Alabama to name his kid.(?)


55 posted on 09/14/2020 8:08:31 PM PDT by Delta 21
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To: bitt

Possible signs of life on Venus.

Well, of course.

They were comparing some gas with Biden’s speech, and Venus won.


56 posted on 09/14/2020 8:25:29 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM 'information', maybe more so!)
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To: a fool in paradise

Classic movie!


57 posted on 09/14/2020 8:49:36 PM PDT by wjcsux (They are burning buildings and Bibles now, people are next!)
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To: bitt

Extremophiles. Kind of like today’s leftards...


58 posted on 09/14/2020 9:04:52 PM PDT by 43north (Its hard to stop a man when he knows he's right and he keeps coming.)
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To: wally_bert

Thanks for that link! I didn’t remember that Sloan Show. I watched the whole episode and enjoyed it!


59 posted on 09/14/2020 9:10:36 PM PDT by Dogbert41
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To: bitt

I bet a million dollars there is no life on Venus and that they will figure out how this is made. The same gas is made on Jupiter without life so it’s possible.


60 posted on 09/14/2020 9:17:44 PM PDT by DouglasKC
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