Traces of phosphine gas detected in the clouds above Venus could be an indication that the planet supports microbial life, a study has concluded. On Earth, phosphine — a colourless gas that smells like garlic, or decaying fish — is naturally produced mainly by certain microorganisms in the absence of oxygen. Experts from the UK, however, found signs of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere — suggesting the planet must support unknown chemical processes, or even life. They detected a so-called spectral signature that is unique to phosphine — and furthermore were able to estimated that the gas is present in Venus' clouds in an abundance of around 20 parts-per-billion. 'Our twin planet Venus is a hellish world,' added the expert from the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.

Source: Daily Mail September 14, 2020 15:03 UTC