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The fact is that in the atmosphere of the planet Venus, that is, about 50 kilometers above its surface, scientists have managed to detect a gas that could only have been created by living organisms. This does not necessarily mean that terribly smelly phosphine, in the amounts detected, refers directly to the excretions, e.g. ex. extraterrestrials, which could possibly resemble the earthly man.
The discovery of phosphine by an international research team, it was hailed as historically important by NASA itself. And it can only be great for advancing human knowledge about the universe and the answer to whether Earth is the only planet that hosts life. However, Venus remains extremely inhospitable, with a poisonous acidic environment, atmospheric pressure 90 times higher than on Earth, and surface temperatures that oscillate in the region of 460 degrees centigrade.
A first hypothesis about the presence of phosphine is that produced by a microorganismFor example, some bacteria that fly in the atmosphere of Venus. Conditions that look a bit like those on the surface of our planet. Of course, the microorganisms on Venus belong to a completely different and unknown species than what might be found on Earth.
Enthusiasm at NASA
Celebrating the magnificent discovery of phosphine in Aphrodite, the director of the American space agency (NASA) Jim Bridenstein wrote on Twitter that “Life on Aphrodite?” The discovery of phosphine, a product of anaerobic biology, is by far the most important event in the investigation of extraterrestrial life. “
Your enthusiasm Bridenstein is justified by the opening of a space exploration chapter that had been closed, at least since the 1960s. With the almost exclusive focus of scientific interest on Mars, its possibilities for future colonization, etc., planets like Venus were excluded from the systematic study. But this is now being completely reversed thanks to phosphine, such a humble substance found on Earth in the production of dead fish, in decomposing freshwater sludge, and in penguin feces.
Life on Venus? The discovery of phosphine, a byproduct of anaerobic biology, is the most significant advance yet in building the case for life outside of Earth. About 10 years ago, NASA discovered microbial life 120,000 feet in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Time to prioritize Venus. https://t.co/hm8TOEQ9es
– Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) September 14, 2020
The discovery
Phosphine detected of two telescopes in Chile and Hawaii, in the dense cloud that surrounds Aphrodite. The announcement was published on Monday, September 14 in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy, summarizing the methodology and long-term systematic observation, data processing, etc. by an international team of astronomers from Cardiff University, led by Professor Jane Greaves.
The essence of the discovery has to do with the large amount of phosphine, in proportion to other gases in the atmosphere of Venus. Made up of clouds so toxic to immediately destroy and remove phosphine, if its amount is small. However, on the contrary, substance abounds around Aphrodite. Even far from the surface of the planet, where an Earthling (if there were oxygen) could survive, there could be some form of life.
Astronomers and cosmologists have repeatedly argued that the discovery of phosphine in large quantities on rocky planets could be a sign of alien life. However, confirmation of this conclusion would require more and more evidence.
Therefore, the researchers clarify that there is no way to know for sure what the findings mean. As stated in the Nature Astronomy article «“Phosphine is not itself tangible evidence of extraterrestrial life, but only of currently unusual and inexplicable chemical processes.”
According to the researchers, the detection of phosphine occurred by chance, like most major discoveries in the history of human knowledge.
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