Signs of two gases in clouds of Venus could indicate life, scientists say
Scientists detected phosphine and ammonia in Venus' clouds, hinting at potential life. Phosphine presence was confirmed, while ammonia was tentatively found. Further research is crucial to validate these findings and explore Venus' habitability.
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Scientists have detected signs of two gases, phosphine and ammonia, in the clouds of Venus, potentially indicating the presence of life forms. The discovery was presented at a national astronomy meeting, with one team confirming the presence of phosphine, a gas previously disputed on Venus. Another team tentatively detected ammonia, a gas primarily produced by biological activity on Earth. While these gases are not definitive proof of extraterrestrial life, they raise the possibility of life existing in the Venusian clouds. The harsh conditions on Venus make the detection of these gases intriguing, as they could suggest the presence of hardy microbes adapted to survive in the planet's more temperate past. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the origin of these gases, with experts emphasizing the need for robust evidence before concluding the presence of life on Venus. The discovery has sparked interest in exploring Venus further to uncover more about its potential for hosting life.
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2 commentsCue references to that Star Trek episode where they were destroying alien eggs without realizing they were eggs and the guardian was killing miners because of it.
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