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 ...
Impossible.
I vaguely remember “Acid Creatures From Planet Venus” as a 4 part epic spoken word musical jam by Frank Zappa and the Mothers...
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.
(Somebody had to do it!) :-)
All that gas...
Keyword ....... Possible.
“ A molecule is a “possible sign of life”, but an unborn baby isn’t.”
Bears repeating.
I chose popularmechanics because
a. WSJ and NYT are paywalls
b. I avoid their pompous diatribes whenever possible.
That was such a great episode of The Twilight Zone.......
Gas leak found coming from Uranus.
meh
Nothing conclusive. Nothing unique. Some one is looking for research dollars
....and Ji-Tu Cumbuka as “Torque”!
Funny name for a Baptist minister from Helena Alabama to name his kid.(?)
Possible signs of life on Venus.
Well, of course.
They were comparing some gas with Biden’s speech, and Venus won.
Classic movie!
Extremophiles. Kind of like today’s leftards...
Thanks for that link! I didn’t remember that Sloan Show. I watched the whole episode and enjoyed it!
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.
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