Potential sign of alien life detected on inhospitable Venus

[webfact]

Potential sign of alien life detected on inhospitable Venus

By Will Dunham

 

This artistic impression depicts the planet Venus, where scientists have confirmed the detection of phosphine molecules. ESO/M. Kornmesser & NASA/JPL/Caltech via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists said on Monday they have detected in the harshly acidic clouds of Venus a gas called phosphine that indicates microbes may inhabit Earth's inhospitable neighbor, a tantalizing sign of potential life beyond Earth.

 

The researchers did not discover actual life forms, but noted that on Earth phosphine is produced by bacteria thriving in oxygen-starved environments.

 

The international scientific team first spotted the phosphine using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii and confirmed it using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescope in Chile.

 

"I was very surprised - stunned, in fact," said astronomer Jane Greaves of Cardiff University in Wales, lead author of the research published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

 

The existence of extraterrestrial life long has been one of the paramount questions of science. Scientists have used probes and telescopes to seek "biosignatures" - indirect signs of life - on other planets and moons in our solar system and beyond.

 

Scientists say they've detected in the harshly acidic clouds of Venus a gas called phosphine that indicates microbes may inhabit Earth's inhospitable neighbor, a tantalizing sign of potential life beyond Earth. Joe Davies reports.

 

"With what we currently know of Venus, the most plausible explanation for phosphine, as fantastical as it might sound, is life," said Massachusetts Institute of Technology molecular astrophysicist and study co-author Clara Sousa-Silva.

 

"I should emphasize that life, as an explanation for our discovery, should be, as always, the last resort," Sousa-Silva added. "This is important because, if it is phosphine, and if it is life, it means that we are not alone. It also means that life itself must be very common, and there must be many other inhabited planets throughout our galaxy."

 

Venus has not been the focus of the search for life elsewhere in the solar system, with Mars and other worlds getting more attention.

 

Phosphine - a phosphorus atom with three hydrogen atoms attached - is highly toxic to people.

 

Earth-based telescopes like those used in this research help scientists study the chemistry and other characteristics of celestial objects.

 

Phosphine was seen at 20 parts-per-billion in the Venusian atmosphere, a trace concentration. Greaves said the researchers examined potential non-biological sources such as volcanism, meteorites, lightning and various types of chemical reactions, but none appeared viable. The research continues to either confirm the presence of life or find an alternative explanation.

 

Venus is Earth's closest planetary neighbor. Similar in structure but slightly smaller than Earth, it is the second planet from the sun. Earth is the third.

 

Venus is wrapped in a thick, toxic atmosphere that traps in heat. Surface temperatures reach a scorching 880 degrees Fahrenheit (471 degrees Celsius), hot enough to melt lead.

 

"I can only speculate on what life might survive on Venus, if indeed it is there. No life would be able to survive on the surface of Venus, because it is completely inhospitable, even for biochemistries completely different from ours," Sousa-Silva said. "But a long time ago, Venus could have had life on its surface, before a runaway greenhouse effect left the majority of the planet completely uninhabitable."

 

THE ACID TEST

Some scientists have suspected that the Venusian high clouds, with mild temperatures around 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), could harbor aerial microbes that could endure extreme acidity. These clouds are around 90% sulphuric acid. Earth microbes could not survive that acidity.

 

"If it's microorganisms, they would have access to some sunlight and water, and maybe live in liquid droplets to stop themselves dehydrating, but they would need some unknown mechanism to protect against corrosion by acid," Greaves said.

 

On Earth, microorganisms in "anaerobic" environments - ecosystems that do not rely on oxygen - produce phosphine. These include sewage plants, swamps, rice fields, marshlands, lake sediments and the excrements and intestinal tracts of many animals. Phosphine also arises non-biologically in certain industrial settings.

 

To produce phosphine, Earth bacteria take up phosphate from minerals or biological material and add hydrogen.

 

"We have done our very best to explain this discovery without the need for a biological process. With our current knowledge of phosphine, and Venus, and geochemistry, we cannot explain the presence of phosphine in the clouds of Venus. That doesn't mean it is life. It just means that some exotic process is producing phosphine, and our understanding of Venus needs work," Sousa-Silva said.

 

Venus should be hostile to phosphine. Its surface and atmosphere are rich in oxygen compounds that would rapidly react with and destroy phosphine.

 

"Something must be creating the phosphine on Venus as fast as it is being destroyed," said study co-author Anita Richards, an astrophysicist associated with the University of Manchester in England.

 

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on Twitter called the new findings "the most significant development yet in building the case for life off Earth." Among missions that the U.S. space agency is currently considering is one that would send an atmospheric probe to Venus.

 

"It's time to prioritize Venus," Bridenstine wrote.

 

While previous robotic spacecraft have visited Venus, a new probe may be needed to confirm life.

 

"Fortunately, Venus is right next door," Sousa-Silva said. "So we can literally go and check."

 

(Reporting by Will Dunham; Additional reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Sandra Maler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-15

 

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[MaxYakov]

We don't have to go all the way to Venus to find "alien life". Enough of it has shown up on Earth lately.

[Tarteso]

The’re here

[sammieuk1]

Amazing no alien life at swampy but now found on Venus????

[Brunolem]

They also found life deep in a basement somewhere in Delaware, USA!

 

It shows that life can strive in the most inhospitable places...

[kotsak]

TM30 and 90 days report pronto..

 

[Eric Loh]

50 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

The’re here

Alien DNA are all here according to Dr “strange” Stella. Endorsed by Trump. 

[twocatsmac]

41 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

They also found life deep in a basement somewhere in Delaware, USA!

 

It shows that life can strive in the most inhospitable places...

????

That was a creepy life, not intelligent.

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

Probably seeing LOS civil servants and BIBs assigned to inactive posts. The allocated space here is overflowing so they had to use offshore.

[nobodysfriend]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The existence of extraterrestrial life long has been one of the paramount questions of science

Alien ( intelligent )  life forms on other planets will need liquid water to exist . ( Aliens in Thailand mostly only need beer )

Many planets are either too cold or too hot ( Venus ) .

That is why our planet is so precious .

But with all the billions of galaxies out there , there will be planets that can create life , just as ours ...

Phosphine molecules are  just one of many essentials to life . That they found this even on boiling Venus , is just an indication that life forms on other planets ( that are not too far or too close to their sun ) , are very possible .

[Bender Rodriguez]

next planet : YOURANUS or how do you write that one ?

[chilli42]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"I should emphasize that life, as an explanation for our discovery, should be, as always, the last resort," Sousa-Silva added. "This is important because, if it is phosphine, and if it is life, it means that we are not alone. It also means that life itself must be very common, and there must be many other inhabited planets throughout our galaxy."

I can understand that being a scientist he wants proof.  You would have to be a complete moron to think there is no life elsewhere in the universe.  It’s only relatively recently that science has been able to prove there are planets outside of our solar system.  

[Brunolem]

32 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Alien ( intelligent )  life forms on other planets will need liquid water to exist . ( Aliens in Thailand mostly only need beer )

Many planets are either too cold or too hot ( Venus ) .

That is why our planet is so precious .

But with all the billions of galaxies out there , there will be planets that can create life , just as ours ...

Phosphine molecules are  just one of many essentials to life . That they found this even on boiling Venus , is just an indication that life forms on other planets ( that are not too far or too close to their sun ) , are very possible .

You might want to dig further into what is necessary for life to thrive on a planet, which goes far beyond having water.

 

There is for example the need for a magnetic field, and at least in the case of the Earth, of a Moon which plays a crucial role...

Edited September 15, 2020 by Brunolem

[Brunolem]

23 minutes ago, chilli42 said:

You would have to be a complete moron to think there is no life elsewhere in the universe.

There's life, and then there's life.

 

Assuming that all the conditions were fulfilled, and there are quite a few, what would be the odds that the same exact four protein would randomly assemble to form DNA on another planet ?

 

Or could there be life without DNA, or equivalent?

Edited September 15, 2020 by Brunolem

[partington]

8 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

 

 

Assuming that all the conditions were fulfilled, and there are quite a few, what would be the odds that the same exact four protein would randomly assemble to form DNA on another planet ?

 

 

I can confidently say the chances are absolute zero , since DNA is not a protein, and its structure does not consist of four proteins!

Edited September 15, 2020 by partington

[Pique Dard]

lol! first, show us the martians!

[soalbundy]

It's where all the tourists have gone

[Brunolem]

2 hours ago, partington said:

I can confidently say the chances are absolute zero , since DNA is not a protein, and its structure does not consist of four proteins!

My mistake for proteins. 

 

Yet I was referring to ACGT, the four bases of DNA. 

 

How likely is it that these exact same components (plus a few others) would combine in the same way, to reach the same results? 

 

[from the home of CC]

like in Well's book, if they came here they'd die of covid lol

[worgeordie]

It could be life.......but not as we know it Jim.

regards worgeordie

[opalred]

it could be  trumps space forces  has arrived .he will tell his followers  /they will believe him 

[rumak]

oopsss.......... seems like i stumbled on a Trecky convention.      bye ????

[Justgrazing]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Venus is Earth's closest planetary neighbor. Similar in structure but slightly smaller than Earth, it is the second planet from the sun. Earth is the third

and has been known to call out the others with jibes " you lot have no life " and " anytime sunshine " .. 

[FarFlungFalang]

55 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

like in Well's book, if they came here they'd die of covid lol

I thought the aliens in Wells' book died from bacteria and not from viruses. 

[Dumbastheycome]

Amazing how so much can be "assumed" .

The apparent detection of a  gas that is fetid and toxic to  humans suddenly becomes  evidence of alien life  forms ?

Is it a given that such a gas  can "only" exist as the result of  decomposition of a more sophisticated life  from? To the extent that such a life form is some  threatening alien creature?

IMO only in the simple minds of  people who subscribe to and watch  too many hours of

N-Flik style  channels!

Pop in the  word  "alien" and be sure to attract  interest. Such interest  attracts ?

Perhaps better to consider the definition of  "alien" .

If I were fart in a lift in a  very tall building on my way to near the  top floor I am  sure  I would  alienate other  occupants by proving I an undeniably of this world  at the time. 

Analysis of gasses present could only provide evidence  of  gasses. Not  that any specific  gas was  "alien".

 

Incidentally ...our  "off  world " visitors   do not   fart....ever !

 

 

[Dumbastheycome]

????????

[Morch]

1 hour ago, rumak said:

oopsss.......... seems like i stumbled on a Trecky convention.      bye ????

 

And by leaving them to their own devices, you have upheld the Prime Directive.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Directive

[Tug]

Send SPACE FORCE pence front and center your assignment is...........

[spidermike007]

It is highly likely there are millions of civilizations far more advanced than ours (not particularly difficult!) out there. When you consider the immense size of the universe and the hundreds of billions of solar systems within it, to even entertain the thought that we are "IT", is an exercise in hubris, arrogance and misguided self importance.

 

My assumption is that we are one of the least evolved civilizations out there. 

 

Just look at the leadership both here, and in the US, for proof of this theory. 

Edited September 16, 2020 by spidermike007

[Moonlover]

12 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

13 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

like in Well's book, if they came here they'd die of covid lol

 

12 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

I thought the aliens in Wells' book died from bacteria and not from viruses. 

Yes, you're right, it was bacteria:

 

''The Martians on Earth are eventually killed by earth-borne bacteria, of which their immune systems couldn't cope due to having destroyed diseases on their home world of Mars''.

 

But, there's a lesson in there for mankind isn't there. Don't kill all the pathogens! We need them to keep our immune systems healthy.