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Probable signs of life were found on Venus.
Scientists from the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan have discovered a rare chemical compound, phosphine, in the atmosphere of Venus. It can indicate the existence of living microorganisms on the planet. If this hypothesis is confirmed, humanity will receive the first reliable evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial life.
This is stated by a study in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy, reports hromadske.ua on Monday, September 14.
Phosphine (PH3) is a colorless, poisonous gas that is rarely found on Earth under natural conditions. Under normal conditions, it is released during lightning or volcanic activity, but in very small amounts. But on Venus, they found a lot.
Actually, it was the latter fact that allowed a group of researchers led by Cardiff University professor Jane Greaves to suggest that we are talking about the activity of microorganisms. Some of them are known to release phosphine due to vital processes. Scientists formulated their hypothesis last year, but it was only recently partially confirmed.
Greaves and his colleagues used the powerful JCMT telescope and the ALMA telescope to find that the phosphine concentration in Venus’ atmosphere is about 20 parts per million. None of the natural processes that could occur on Venus and that are known to scientists, could not lead to the formation of such a concentration of this gas.
This is, according to the study authors, probable proof of the presence of life on Venus. But the scientists emphasize: we are talking only about a possible test, not a reliable confirmation of the hypothesis. After all, phosphine on the second planet from the Sun can be produced as a result of other processes that are still unknown to us.
And even if there really is life on Venus, we will talk about small living microorganisms in the upper atmosphere: on the surface of the planet, the temperature exceeds 460 degrees Celsius.
Previously, scientists took a new approach and said that in our galaxy, the Milky Way It can exist 36 alien civilizations.
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