Did we just detect life on Venus?

Did we just detect life on Venus?

  Venus, also called the twin of Earth, is almost the same as Earth in terms of diameter, surface area, mass and other physical properties. Except that fact, that it is not capable of boasting life. It's thick acidic atmosphere, rugged terrain, and extremely high temperature makes it impossible for life to sustain there.

  But recently, on 14th of September 2020, scientists confirmed the traces of a gas called phosphine has in Venus' thick clouds. And that is not the problem. The problem is that only some microbes on Earth are able to produce this gas and it is also very hard for humans to produce it artificially. So? How it got there? From where did it come there? What does it mean? How did we discovery it? Did we just detect life on Venus? Continue reading to know more...

  A professor from Cardiff University, England named Jane Greaves found out these traces with the help of his team of astronomers. They detected these traces with powerful telescopes. It's too early to say what's creating the gas, but if the result is confirmed, one possibility is that it was made by microbial life floating in the planet's thick atmosphere. 

  It could turn the gaze of scientists toward one of the brightest objects in the night sky. Instead, for decades, scientists have sought signs of life elsewhere, usually peering outward to Mars and more recently at Europa, Enceladus and other icy moons of the giant planets. But now, they are at stake with a high probably of that on Venus, which roasts at high temperatures and has thick clouds containing droplets of corrosive acids. 

  Some researchers question this hypothesis, and they suggest instead that the gas could result from unexplained atmospheric or geologic processes on a planet that remains mysterious. But the finding will also encourage some planetary scientists to ask whether humanity has overlooked a planet that may have once been more Earthlike than any other world in our solar system.

  Many scientists think that Venus was once covered in water and possessed an atmosphere where life as we know it could have flourished.

In earlier days of the solar system, Earth was not so hospitable to the likes of us. There was life here then, even an entire biosphere that did not survive in the oxygen-rich environment that later developed. And much as Earth over time became a home for jellyfish, ferns, dinosaurs and Homo sapiens, Venus was transformed by something into a hell.

  So it's not crazy to think that we could soon get an answer to that biggest of queries: Are we alone?

Posts before October 2021 have been marked as "Old Posts". Less likely, but they might have out dated or incorrect information, ugly looking bits of code, no labels, etc. Don't get me wrong, many of these posts are top-notch and interesting too.

I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!

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