"Is There Life on Geumseong?"... Astronomers Confirm Possibility of Lifeforms Existing

International Astronomers Discover Phosphine in Venus Atmosphere Using Celestial Telescopes

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Astronomers have found evidence that life might exist on Venus. Using telescopes, astronomers detected traces of phosphine (PH3), a gas that indicates biological activity, in the atmosphere of Venus.

Venus photographed by the space probe Galileo [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 14th (local time), an international research team announced that they discovered phosphine in the atmosphere about 60 km above Venus, where the temperature is relatively moderate, using telescopes.

Astronomers from the UK, the US, and Japan published a paper in an academic journal to reveal this finding to the world. Professor Jane Greaves from Cardiff University said, "I thought scenarios where organisms could inhabit Venus' atmosphere should be ruled out, so I was shocked when phosphine was confirmed in Venus' atmosphere." Another research team pointed out, "This study opens a new era in the search for extraterrestrial life," adding, "Although caution is still needed, if there are no microorganisms or other life forms, there is no explanation for why phosphine is observed in Venus' atmosphere."

The researchers explored the possibility that phosphine could have been produced by means other than biological activity. However, they concluded that volcanic activity, lightning, or photochemical reactions involving Venusian minerals could not generate phosphine.

On Earth, anaerobic bacteria produce phosphine, which has a strong odor and is toxic. Additionally, phosphine is also produced during industrial processes. However, since Venus has different atmospheric conditions compared to Earth, microorganisms there are presumed to be different as well. The surface temperature of Venus reaches 400 degrees Celsius. In contrast, the atmosphere 60 km above the surface is strongly acidic but has a temperature around 30 degrees Celsius.

The research team analyzed the chemical composition of Venus' atmosphere using the spectrometer of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii, USA, and then confirmed the results with telescopes at the ALMA Observatory in Chile.

For decades, astrobiologists have speculated that microorganisms might live in Venus' atmosphere. However, the academic community has focused more on celestial bodies with a higher likelihood of life, such as the moons of Jupiter and Saturn or Mars.

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