Phosphine on Venus: Possible sign of life stirs up heated debate

Phosphine on Venus: Possible sign of life stirs up heated debate

Life on Venus: the truth is up there

Researchers are racing to confirm the surprise discovery of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus — and investigate whether it really could indicate the presence of life. Astronomers propose using NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii and its telescope-on-a-plane, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. And three space missions are scheduled to fly close to Venus in the coming months: Europe and Japan’s BepiColombo spacecraft — on its way to Mercury — and the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, both travelling to the Sun. There is also a spacecraft currently orbiting Venus: Japan’s Akatsuki mission, which can’t spot phosphine directly but can investigate the atmosphere and the clouds. And India, the United States and Europe are planning future missions.

Nature | 6 min read
Read more: Possible sign of life on Venus stirs up heated debate (National Geographic | 11 min read)