A bombshell new study has revealed there is still much activity happening on and beneath the surface of Venus, the planet one step closer to the Sun. Astronomers had believed that Venus was once Earth-like, complete with an atmosphere and oceans.
However, over billions of years, it lost its atmosphere and researchers theorised all geological features on Venus virtually came to a stop.
New research, though, suggests the small planet is alive and kicking after astronomers discovered the presence of 37 volcanic structures on Venus that appear to have been recently active – and probably still are today.
The study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, focussed on ring-like structures called coronae which are caused by the swelling of hot rock beneath the surface.
Volcanoes and earthquakes would prove that the planet is still active as they are caused by processes in a planet’s core, which in Venus’s case, much like Earth, is still swashing magma.
Study co-author Laurent Montési, a professor of geology at the University of Maryland, said: “This is the first time we are able to point to specific structures and say, ‘Look, this is not an ancient volcano but one that is active today — dormant, perhaps, but not dead.
“This study significantly changes the view of Venus from a mostly inactive planet to one whose interior is still churning and can feed many active volcanoes.”
The researchers, led by geophysicist Anna Gülcher of ETH Zürich in Switzerland, used computer simulations coupled with data by spacecraft such as NASA’s Magellan probe, which orbited the planet from 1990 to 1994, to come up with the most realistic situation for Venus’ current state.
Ms Gülcher said: “The improved degree of realism in these models over previous studies makes it possible to identify several stages in corona evolution and define diagnostic geological features present only at currently active coronae.
“We are able to tell that at least 37 coronae have been very recently active.”
Despite the planet not being as dead as astronomers thought, it is still unlikely that any life would be able to live there.
Temperatures on Venus exceed 460 degrees celsius thanks to the tick, poisonous atmosphere that is full of carbon dioxide leading to an extreme greenhouse gas effect.
At that temperature, which is hotter than Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, there is no liquid on Venus of any kind, making the prospect of life impossible by current scientific understanding.