Summary:
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New Atmospheric Findings: Scientists have discovered preliminary evidence for the presence of phosphine and ammonia in Venus’s atmosphere, deepening the mystery of their origins and suggesting the potential for microbial life. These detections were made using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) and the Green Bank Telescope, pointing to intriguing biological possibilities despite Venus’s harsh surface conditions.
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Phosphine and Ammonia Detections: The detections were led by Jane Greaves from the University of Cardiff. The data collected using the new “Namakanui” detector on the JCMT from three observing campaigns provided 140 times as much data as the initial detection. Dave Clements, an astrophysicist from Imperial College London, mentioned that the processes producing these compounds in Venus’s oxygenating atmosphere are unknown, mirroring the mystery of why Earth’s bacteria produce phosphine.
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Potential Origins and Future Research: Various hypotheses have been proposed, including rare photochemical processes or volcanic activity on Venus. The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will make a fly-by of Venus in August 2025, equipped with instruments capable of detecting phosphine and ammonia, potentially providing further insights into this celestial enigma.
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