Without water, life on Earth’s closest neighbors would not be possible

That too Planet Venus, the closest neighbor to Earth, does not need to be welcomed. The known life on the blue planet is impossible there because there is not enough water in it
Atmosphere, According to a study released Monday Natural astronomy. This is a new condemnation for scientists of the discovery of a gas associated with living things.

Microbiologist John Halsworth, the study’s leading co-author, said there was “no possible active life” in the clouds of Venus. Earth’s neighbors are, in many respects, similar in size and mass, but differ from it in a hellish surface temperature of 470 ° C and a carbon dioxide atmosphere of 97%. In other words, not so ideal for life.

Scientific discussions on phosphine

The planet is covered with a dense layer of clouds made up of droplets of sulfuric acid. This is what happened last SeptemberAstronomer British Jane Greaves announced the discovery of phosphine. This combination, which comes from human or microbial activity on Earth, plunged the scientific community into turmoil before this announcement was fiercely contested by scientists.

This method is objectionable to the possibility that an organism may exist under such conditions. One of John Halsworth’s research papers at Queen’s University in Belfast reads: “Minimum amount of microorganisms in water. [les plus résistants] Being active and growing can satisfy the earth. ” His verdict was final: the amount of water available in the clouds of Venus was “less than a hundred times” for the survival of the most flexible microorganisms known. In other words, “unresolved distance from what is necessary for life to function”.

Bro. The Jane Greaves team has finally reduced the amount of phosphine it claims to have discovered. Chris McKay, astronomer NASA And the co-author of the study on Monday said, “There is no firm consensus in the scientific community that the detected signal is phosphine.” But even there, we know about Venus’ atmosphere to “tell if there’s enough water for life,” says Chris McKay. And “This is not the case in Venus, so far”.

New studies in 2030

According to this NASA expert, three studies exploring Venus by 2030 will confirm the already acquired temperature, pressure and water measurement data, while at the same time being able to revisit “the history of the neighborhood” three billion years ago. ” To this “philosophical” question, Chris McKay replied, “We leave biology (…) and enter the realm of imagination.” There is a part of dreams in space.