Is Venus home to alien life? phosphine molecules discovered on planet sparks debate among scientists

Venus (Representative Image - Canva)

A team of scientists discovered phosphine in the cloud of Venus. This remarkable discovery sparked debates among scientists, on will this new finding indicates the life on Venus or not.

Jane Greaves in the speech at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting 2023 in Cardiff University in Wales this week, revealed the discovery of phosphine at deeper atmospheric levels.

The team of Greaves at Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii used the James Clark Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) to observe the Venus clouds. According to Greaves the presence of Phosphine on Earth is due to the microorganisms living here that in very low oxygen survive and through metabolic processes, the phosphine is formed.

Due to Earth's lack of loose hydrogen, phosphine can't be formed by any other means. This signifies that the phosphine on other planets is a potential biosignature.

According to Greaves"There's a prominent theory suggesting that phosphine could form by releasing phosphorus-bearing rocks into the upper atmosphere, where they react with water and acids to produce phosphine gas."

Despite the discovery of Phosphine on Venus, it doesn't necessarily mean that there is alien life on the planet. Three years ago this discovery according to Greaves in 2020 they made this discovery after the study of other solar system worlds like Saturn and then worked on improving their present technology which is a telescope to study and observe the smaller planets.

Venus’s surface is incredibly harsh, with temperatures reaching around 900 degrees Fahrenheit (475 degrees Celsius). However, about 30 miles above the surface, in the planet’s cloud layer, conditions are relatively more moderate and resemble those on Earth.

Researchers are actively investigating all potential explanations for the observed phosphine, including non-biological sources. The discussion is still ongoing, and additional research and observations are necessary to fully grasp the implications of this finding.

It is not yet fully understood, that what might lead to the formation of phosphine on Venus. The search for life beyond Earth is a complex and challenging endeavour, and Venus has become an intriguing part of this cosmic puzzle.