Venus Phosphine Update June 2023
The Venusian atmospheric phosphine debate continues in 2023. Recently Cordiner et al. (2022) find no phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere, using the airborne SOFIA observatory (1). Professor Jane Greaves and the…
Venus Missions
Venus Life Finder Mission Study
The 18-month MIT-led Venus Life Finder Mission Study is now complete. The Venus Life Finder Missions are a series of focused astrobiology mission concepts to search for habitability, signs of life, and…
Venus Phosphine Update
One year after the announcement of phosphine (PH3) gas in the Venus atmosphere (1), the discovery remains highly controversial. The original PH3 announcement is based on a single-millimeter wavelength absorption…
Did Venus ever have oceans?
Imagine our sister planet Venus billions of years ago being an ocean-filled world like Earth is today. The thinking is that at some point Venus underwent a “runaway greenhouse” where…
Are Venus’ cloud layers too dry for life?
Scientists have speculated about life in the Venus clouds for over half a century. In theory the conditions for life are met: an energy source, the right temperature for molecules,…
What is the source of PH3 on Venus?
The source of phosphine (PH3) on Venus is unknown. There could be an as yet unknown geochemistry or photochemistry process. Or, there could possibly be life in the Venus cloud…
Venus Life Finder Study Kick Off Meeting
75 of the world’s leading scientists and engineers, in fields including Astrobiology, Chemistry and Spacecraft Design, met virtually on Friday 18th September 2020 for the Venus Life Finder Study Kick-Off Meeting.…
MIT and Breakthrough Announce Venus Life Finder Mission Study
MIT and the Breakthrough Initiatives are undertaking a Venus Life Finder Mission Concept Study. The study is inspired by the discovery of phosphine (PH3) gas in the Venusian atmosphere. On…