NASA detects oxygen above Venus in unprecedented discovery
11:14 AM EST, November 9, 2023
Despite being dubbed 'Earth's sister,' Venus is inhospitable, posing conditions so extreme that the probes which have been exploring Mars for years would not survive on its surface. However, recent scientific discovery indicates immense quantities of oxygen residing above the planet's toxic clouds. Although existent, this oxygen is not breathable for humans.
Often referred to as 'Earth's sister' due to its similar size and chemical composition, Venus harbours potential for human conditions, according to some scientists. These conditions, if existent, would be situated above the deadly clouds; though confirming such a hypothesis is currently impossible given our inability to deploy probes onto the planet.
Oxygen discovery on Venus
New revelations from NASA's telescope suggests the presence of oxygen on Venus. This extraordinary find has been documented in the scientific journal, "Nature Communications".
The discovered oxygen is located approximately 62 miles above Venus's atmosphere. It is generated on the planet's day side as Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide breakdown, potentially migrating to the planet's dark side.
The oxygen detected on Venus is structurally different from the oxygen we breathe on Earth. It is atomic oxygen, consisting of single atoms of oxygen that react and bind with other elements, thereby not remaining in the atmosphere for long. Atomic oxygen is also seen in Earth's upper atmospheric layers.
Detection of atomic oxygen could enable scientists to deepen their understanding of Venus's atmospheric attributes and shed light on various aspects of conditions there. The question whether Venus's atmosphere was once Earth-like or has always been inhabitable has been the subject of debate for years now.
Venus is enshrouded in lethal, dense clouds of sulfuric acid with a pressure nearly 92 times higher than that of Earth. The planet is rocky and devoid of any trace of life. Speculations suggest it may have had oceans in the past, which evaporated as surface temperature increased. Venus also experiences wind speeds reaching up to a whopping 435 mph.
