Venus gives exciting signs of possible life on the planet: Scientists

New Delhi : The atmosphere at Venus is considered not suitable for humans due to its high temperatures, capable enough to even melt lead during day, and excessive presence of Carbon Dioxide. But, in a new development, the scientists have found the presence of phosphine gas - which on Earth can be attributed to living organisms.

A team of researchers used telescopes in Hawaii and Chile's Atacama Desert to make an observation on Venus' upper cloud deck, about 45 miles from the surface of the planet.

They detected traces of phosphine, a flammable gas that on Earth often occurs from the breakdown of organic matter.

Writing in Nature Astronomy, the team stressed the presence of phosphine did not prove the presence of life on Venus.

However, as the clouds swirling about its broiling surface are highly acidic and therefore destroy phosphine very quickly, the research did show that something was creating it anew.

From there the researchers focused on the phenomenon which could be possible producing phosphine on the planet.

They concluded that their research provided evidence "for anomalous and unexplained chemistry" on Venus.

Reacting to the study, Alan Duffy, an astronomer from Swinburne University and Lead Scientist of The Royal Institution of Australia, said it while it was tempting to believe that the phosphine was produced by lifeforms, "we have to rule out all possible other non-biological means of producing it".

He called the finding "one of the most exciting signs of the possible presence of life beyond Earth I have ever seen".