As the "evil twin" of the Earth, is Venus born with a hot "physique"?

Author: Huang Xianghong Duan Yuechu

In the search for extraterrestrial life, Venus has always been the focus of much attention. For a long time, the scientific community has been engaged in fierce debate and in-depth research on whether Venus once had an ocean to support the growth of life. Now, a new research result from a research team at the University of Cambridge has, like a heavy hammer, shattered people's beautiful vision of the possibility of life on Venus.

Venus, a planet similar to Earth in mass and distance from the Sun, is often called Earth's "evil twin." Although it now presents a purgatory-like harsh scene, in early speculation, many scientists believed that Venus might be more similar to Earth in ancient times, and even had an ocean composed of liquid water, which had the potential to nurture life.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have taken a different approach and tried to uncover the historical mysteries of Venus by precisely testing the chemical composition of Venus' atmosphere. They focused on the changes in substances such as water, carbon dioxide and carbonyl sulfide in the atmosphere of Venus. On Earth, volcanic eruptions are mostly water vapor, thanks to the abundant water resources in the Earth's interior. However, the study found that the water vapor content in Venus' volcanic gases is extremely low, not exceeding 6%. It can be inferred that Venus' interior is extremely dry and it is difficult to provide enough water to form and maintain a surface ocean.

This research result undoubtedly puts a clear end to the long-standing dispute between the two mainstream theories about the evolution of Venus. In the past, one theory holds that Venus was once cool enough for liquid water to exist, but due to the runaway greenhouse effect caused by volcanic activity, it gradually warmed up and eventually lost its liquid water; while the other theory claims that Venus was "born hot" and never had liquid water. Today's research results clearly support the latter.

The team's research results were published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Their influence is not limited to reshaping the understanding of Venus itself, but also has far-reaching significance for the exploration and research of planets outside the solar system. It provides astronomers with valuable references when screening potentially habitable planets outside the solar system, helping to improve the accuracy and scientificity of judgments.

Currently, the surface temperature of Venus is as high as about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (500 degrees Celsius), which is enough to melt lead, and is shrouded in sulfuric acid clouds, making the environment extremely harsh. Although we cannot completely rule out the slight possibility of life on Venus before launching a probe at the end of this century, based on existing research, the idea that Venus has life forms similar to Earth that rely on liquid water has become extremely slim. This research result not only deepens our understanding of Venus, but also allows us to think more carefully and move forward on the road to exploring life in the universe.