Astronomers observed a
huge scar
on Jupiter on July 20, thought to be caused by a comet or
asteroid impact. Now a similar scar has appeared on Venus.
Because Venus is an inner planet, it is less likely that this
scar was caused by an incoming object. However, if it is
volcanic in origin, it would have been the result of an
extraordinary eruption. It is also possible that it was caused
by a wave of charged particles from the sun, but this is
unlikely because no such wave was recorded on earth. If it is
the result of a strike by space rock, it could mean that a
significant number of undetected large objects are presently
entering our solar system, and are reaching the inner planets.
If an object large enough to cause such a scar struck earth,
it would be the equivalent of the impact that ended the age
of the dinosaurs.
NASA has finally admitted that there's
life on
Mars. Now astronomers think there may also be life on
Venus too (or used to be, anyway, before the recent
impact), despite the fact that this planet has a climate so
hot that this seems impossible.
But researchers think that microbes could survive and
reproduce, experts say, floating in the thick, cloudy
atmosphere, protected by a sunscreen of sulfur.
In BBC News, Martin Redfern quotes researcher Andrew
Intersoll as saying, "Venus is really a hellish place. If you
could get through the sulfuric acid clouds down to the
surface of Venus you'd find it was hotter than an oven. You
could melt lead at the surface of Venus and there'd be no
water."
But Venus wasn't always the hell it is now, and during an
earlier climate era, life may have become established there.
Redfern quotes researcher Louis Irwin as saying, "It may well
have been Earth-like long enough for life to either emerge or
be transported there."
And he quotes researcher David Grinspoon as saying, "One
lifeform's deadly radiation may be another lifeform's lunch."
If we went to the moon (and
we
really did), and we're planning a trip to Mars, Venus may be
next on the list in the
future. Who knows
what kind
of life forms we'll eventually find in the universe (and what
sort of
wisdom
they may have for us)?
To learn more,
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