Quixplained: What discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus means | Explained News,The Indian Express 18/09/20, 1:37 PM

By: Explained Desk | New Delhi | September 18, 2020 1:03:53 pm

Life on Venus? Here's why the latest discovery by astronomers has triggered excitement.

Is there life on Venus? The idea was triggered recently after astronomers
announced the discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of the planet.
Phosphine, a colourless but smelly gas, is known to be made only by some species of
bacteria that survive in the absence of oxygen.

The international team of scientists reported traces of phosphine in concentration

of approximately 20 parts per billion, thousands to millions of times more than
what could otherwise be expected. Their findings were published in Nature
Astronomy.

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Quixplained: What discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus means | Explained News,The Indian Express 18/09/20, 1:37 PM

Could #Venus possible be hosting extraterrestrial life?

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Quixplained: What discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus means | Explained News,The Indian Express 18/09/20, 1:37 PM

Here’s what we know about phosphine, the gas discovered in the atmosphere of Venus.

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Quixplained: What discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus means | Explained News,The Indian Express 18/09/20, 1:37 PM

It’s too early to say whether there’s life on Venus.

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Quixplained: What discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus means | Explained News,The Indian Express 18/09/20, 1:37 PM

Why is the latest discovery of the high concentration of phosphine exciting?

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Quixplained: What discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus means | Explained News,The Indian Express 18/09/20, 1:37 PM

What is the signiEcance of the discovery?

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