Phosphine gas found in Venus’ atmosphere may be ‘a possible sign of life’
Astronomers detected signs of a smelly, toxic gas that microbes can make in the planet’s clouds
Venus’ atmosphere, shown here in a false-color image from Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft, is best known for choking clouds of sulfuric acid. But surprisingly, the clouds seem to contain phosphine, a potential sign of life.
Akatsuki Project Team/ISAS/JAXA