New Evidence of Phosphine in Clouds of Venus | 15 Jul 2023

Source:Mint

Why in News?

Scientists detected phosphine at deeper level in Venus' atmosphere than before using the James Clark Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) at Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii.

  • Scientists in 2020 detected the presence of phosphine gas in the clouds of Venus.
  • That discovery led to much debate and excitement about the presence of life on Venus given that phosphine is a molecule associated with biological activity on Earth.

Does life exist on Venus?

  • Phosphine on Earth is known to be synthesized by bacteria thriving in environments with extremely low levels of oxygen.
  • Phosphine has been detected in the deeper layers of Venus' clouds.
  • Scientists have acknowledged that while the detection of phosphine could potentially serve as a biosignature, it could also be attributed to other mechanisms that are currently not completely comprehended.
  • A prevalent perspective suggests that phosphine could potentially be produced by introducing phosphorus-containing rocks into the upper atmosphere, subjecting them to erosion through processes involving water, acid, and other factors, resulting in the formation of phosphine gas.

What is Phosphine (PH3)?

  • It is a phosphorus atom with three hydrogen atoms attached and is highly toxic to people.
  • On rocky planets such as Venus and Earth, phosphine can only be made by life whether human or microbe.
  • Phosphine is made naturally by some species of anaerobic bacteria, organisms that live in the oxygen-starved environments of landfills, marshlands, and even animal guts.
  • To produce phosphine, Earth bacteria take up phosphate from minerals or biological material and add hydrogen.
  • Phosphine also arises non-biologically in certain industrial settings.
  • Used as a chemical weapon during World War I.
  • Phosphine is still manufactured as an agricultural fumigant, is used in the semiconductor industry, and is a by-product of meth labs.

What are the Key Facts About Venus?

  • Venus is Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. It is also known as earth's twin.
  • Similar in structure but slightly smaller than Earth, it is the second planet from the Sun.
  • Venus is wrapped in a thick and toxic atmosphere that traps in heat.
  • Surface temperatures reach a scorching 880 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt lead. It is the hottest planet in the solar system.
  • Highly dense, 65 miles of cloud and haze, puts atmospheric pressure more than 90 times what’s felt on Earth’s surface.
  • Also, the planet’s atmosphere is primarily suffocating carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid clouds.