On Earth, phosphine is produced either by living microbes or artificially in labs. And, back in late 2020, scientists produced tantalizing evidence for phosphine in the dense clouds surrounding our neighboring planet, Venus. Since then, the finding has been fiercely debated. Some subsequent searches found it as well, but others didn\u2019t. Now, new results have again upped the ante. On July 17, 2024, The Guardian<\/em> reported on two research teams that have re-detected the phosphine, and have tentatively found ammonia as well. This is significant because, on Earth, ammonia is also produced by living microorganisms. It\u2019s not proof that living microbes are floating around in Venus\u2019 atmosphere. But it\u2019s intriguing.<\/p>\n There aren\u2019t any published papers yet \u2013 those are pending \u2013 but the researchers presented their preliminary findings at the National Astronomy Meeting in Hull, U.K., on July 17, 2024.<\/p>\n The first team focused on re-confirming the phosphine, if possible. Dave Clements, an astrophysicist at Imperial College London in the U.K., and his colleagues used the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii for the task. The observations were part of the JCMT-Venus project. The researchers detected the phosphine signature and were able to track it over time. This not only helped to re-confirm the presence of the phosphine itself, but also provided evidence that the gas follows the day-night cycle in the atmosphere. As Clements told The Guardian<\/em>:<\/p>\n Our findings suggest that when the atmosphere is bathed in sunlight the phosphine is destroyed. All that we can say is that phosphine is there. We don\u2019t know what\u2019s producing it. It may be chemistry that we don\u2019t understand. Or possibly life.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The detection also showed phosphine deeper in the atmosphere than previously known. The results are consistent with previous observations by NASA\u2019s Pioneer Venus 2. Re-analysis of those results also hinted at phosphine at about 34 miles (55 km) altitude. Clements told IFLScience:<\/p>\n We haven\u2019t properly sorted out the atmospheric modeling for this yet, but there are some broad lines at the level that suggest parts per million level of phosphine at around 55, 56 and 57-kilometer altitude, consistent with the Pioneer Venus probe data.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Interesting stuff from Dr Dave Clements of @imperialcollege<\/a> in the #Venus<\/a> session at #NAM2024<\/a>. <\/p>\n He shares preliminary findings which “strengthen” evidence of phosphine in the planet’s clouds, including detections of the potential biomarker deeper in a warmer area of the clouds. pic.twitter.com\/MDqHDKoege<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Royal Astronomical Society (@RoyalAstroSoc) July 17, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The second team, led by astronomer Jane Greaves at Cardiff University in the U.K., said they had tentatively detected ammonia in Venus\u2019 atmosphere, using the Green Bank Telescope (GBO) in West Virginia. It was Greaves and her colleagues who first announced the phosphine discovery back in late 2020. On Earth, ammonia is typically produced by bacteria that convert nitrogen, or by industrial processes.<\/p>\n Like phosphine, scientists can make ammonia in labs, too. But it is considered to be a good biosignature, because \u2013 at least as far as we know \u2013 it\u2019s not easily produced naturally on rocky planets. So if it were to be found in a rocky planet\u2019s atmosphere, there is a good chance it comes from life.<\/p>\n And finding both<\/em> phosphine and ammonia in Venus\u2019 atmosphere is certainly even more interesting, if the findings are correct. It\u2019s not proof of life on Venus, but it\u2019s tantalizing. Ground truths are needed, via a return mission to Venus that would sample the atmosphere directly. As Greaves said:<\/p>\n Even if we confirmed both of these [findings], it is not evidence that we have found these magic microbes and they\u2019re living there today.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Some scientists have speculated that microbes in Venus\u2019 atmosphere could use ammonia to neutralize the harsh sulfuric acid droplets in the clouds. Greaves commented on this also, saying:<\/p>\n If there are any microbes in the Venus clouds, they might make certain gases that you wouldn\u2019t expect. And ammonia came up, as they could use it as a way to neutralize the acid. We\u2019ve detected it slightly above the region which we think is warm enough for life. Either it hasn\u2019t got anything to do with life or the gas is perhaps produced by something living but it drifts upwards where it\u2019s a bit easier for us to detect.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The ammonia detection is still tentative, so more observations are needed to fully confirm it, or not.<\/p>\n The Venus session gets even more exciting! @jgreaves6<\/a> from Cardiff University reveals that as well as phosphine, a second potential biomarker gas \u2013 ammonia \u2013 has been tentatively detected in the clouds of Venus.<\/p>\n Again, it’s important to stress these are preliminary findings. pic.twitter.com\/pxptIkTzxF<\/a><\/p>\nMore phosphine on Venus, deeper in the atmosphere<\/h3>\n
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Ammonia on Venus, too?<\/h3>\n
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Protection against sulfuric acid<\/h3>\n
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