‘Send probe to Venus to check for signs of life’

A space scientist is calling for missions to Venus after research showed the hottest planet in the solar system might just have signs of life.

Phosphine, a gas produced on Earth by microbes was detected swirling about in clouds 35 miles above the surface of Venus.

The micro-organisms metabolise their food without the need for air or sunlight and are found near hydrothermal vents on Earth.

The British and US team which announced the discovery of the gas said they have tried to come up with another explanation for the existence of the gas but cannot.

Royal Astronomical Society president Professor Emma Bunce, of the University of Leicester – who was not involved in the study – is calling for missions to Venus.

She said: “A key question in science is whether life exists beyond Earth. The discovery by Professor Jane Greaves and her team is a key step forward in that quest.

“I’m particularly delighted to see UK scientists leading such an important breakthrough – something that makes a strong case for a return space mission to Venus.”

Venus is believed to have had oceans before a runaway greenhouse effect took hold.

Its surface now has temperatures of 465C – hot enough to melt lead.

However, high in the atmosphere, temperatures are more typically -18C to 33C (-1F to 93F).

The team detected phosphine from its chemical signature using a radio telescope in Hawaii and checked it using another in Chile.