Astronomers analyzed the data of the Venus project of the Telescope James Clalla (JCMT) on Hawaii and atmospheric probe “Pioneer-Venus-2”, launched in 1978, the US Aeronautics and Space Research (NASA) agency, IFLSCIENCE reports.
The study found signs of the presence of phosphine gas and ammonia molecules produced by microbes living in an invianborn environment, in the clouds of Venus at an altitude of about 55 kilometers.
Dr. Dave Clements from the Imperial College of London and his team used the data of the JCMT-Wenus project to detect other molecules, including phosphin, sulfur dioxide and water.
Clements noted that in accordance with the data of the Pioneer Venus probe, they found phosphin at the level of the units by a million at altitudes of about 55, 56 and 57 kilometers.
Clements in particular said: “There are some oddities in the atmosphere of Venus. Fosfin is a recently emerging substance. In addition, the amount of water and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere changes over time. The cause of this is unknown. Changes are not observed on a very large scale, but It is known that they appear in various periods of time – from several days to several years. “
There are allegations that microbes can produce ammonia in the atmosphere of Venus.
A group of scientists also discovered the presence of ammonia in the clouds, which confirms the information obtained using the Pioneer-Venus-2 pioneer probes.
Ammonia’s presence on a stony planet is considered a strong biological sign. The find does not prove that there was life on Venus, but scientists are trying to understand how ammonia was formed there.
Professor Jane Gryvz from the University of Cardiff in the UK stated that they were inspired by the possibility of life on Venus, and said:
“If there are microbes in the Venusian clouds, they can produce some gases. They can also use ammonia to neutralize the acid. We discovered it a little higher than the region, which, in our opinion, is hot enough for life. Or it has nothing to do with it to life, or gas is produced by something alive and carried up, to where it is easier to detect. “
phosphine gas was first discovered in the clouds of Venus in 2020
Phosfin molecules, consisting of hydrogen and phosphorus atoms, in the clouds surrounding Venus, were first discovered by JCMT in September 2020, and this find was confirmed by the Big Millimeter Antenna (Alma) in Chile.
The results of the study were presented at a special session of the National Astronomical Assembly at the University of Hall in the UK this week.