A daring mission to search for aliens on Venus is truly happening

UK mission VERVE aims to find microbial life in Venus's clouds by 2031.

: A UK-led initiative, the VERVE mission, seeks to verify potential microbial life in the clouds of Venus, particularly due to traces of phosphine and ammonia, which suggest unexplained biological processes. Dr. Jane Greaves from the University of Cardiff highlighted evidence of ammonia in the planet's cloud layers that might support the sustenance of life in these conditions. Scheduled for launch in 2031 aboard the ESA's EnVision mission, VERVE plans to map gases like phosphine indicative of life. Venus's harsh surface contrasts with its more temperate cloud altitudes, which could harbor extremophiles, similar to those found on Earth.

Researchers from the UK, led by the initiative VERVE (Venus Explorer for Reduced Vapours in the Environment), plan to investigate signs of alien life in Venus's atmosphere. A significant motivational factor is the detection of phosphine and ammonia gases in Venus's clouds, potentially indicating biological activity, as these gases on Earth are typically produced biologically or industrially. Jane Greaves, an astronomer from the University of Cardiff, has been pivotal in highlighting this mission's potential impact, as she noted the recent finding of more ammonia, which could exist in Venus's habitable cloud zones.

Previous attempts to ascertain these findings led to debates, primarily when phosphine was first discovered in 2020. Follow-up studies initially struggled to confirm these results, which incited new strategies for the upcoming mission. The launch of VERVE as part of the European Space Agency's EnVision mission solidifies these efforts, set for 2031. The small CubeSat-sized probe will operate separately from its host once it reaches Venus, focusing on measuring phosphine and ammonia concentrations among other gases in the atmosphere.

The understanding of Venus formally changed when researchers observed that phosphine in Venus's atmosphere appeared mostly at nighttime, as sunlight would destroy it. This variation, detected using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii, hints at dynamic atmospheric conditions potentially supporting life. The mission will further quantify these variations to deepen the understanding of Venus as Earth's twin in exploring extraterrestrial life potential.

Another discovery made by the project is the unexpected detection of ammonia in Venus's atmosphere, bolstering theories about potential life-supporting conditions 50 kilometers above the planet's surface. This region's temperatures vary from 30 to 70 degrees Celsius, notably less extreme than Venus's surface, which can reach a staggering 450 degrees Celsius. These findings allude to the possibility that extremophiles could thrive, similar to those inhabiting Earth's hostile environments like hydrothermal vents and deep-sea trenches.

The mission exemplifies growing interest and investment in exploring cosmic neighbors for life-related possibilities, especially when terrestrial conditions make it seem impossible. As the date for the European Space Agency's EnVision mission edges closer, the anticipation builds for what VERVE might reveal, potentially changing humanity's understanding of life in the universe.

Sources: Gizmodo, RAS, University of Cardiff, European Space Agency

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