New Study Suggests Potential for Alien Life Flourishing in Venus’ Acidic Clouds

Amino acids exhibit stability even in highly concentrated sulfuric acid, which is the composition of Venus’ clouds.

The potential for life on Venus is being explored through new research on its sulfuric-acid clouds. This study is paving the way for the development of a new field in astrobiology and organic chemistry.

According to Janusz Pętkowski, a research affiliate at MIT, the search for extraterrestrial life is a driving force in planetary exploration. However, it is important to note that life on other planets may not necessarily have the same biochemistry as life on Earth. While liquid is essential for life to thrive, it does not always have to be water.

Amino acids are surprisingly stable

A significant discovery from the recent study, published in the Astrobiology journal’s special collection of “Venues” research papers, reveals that amino acids can remain stable even in concentrated sulfuric acid. This finding holds great interest for astrobiologists, as amino acids serve as the fundamental building blocks of proteins, which are crucial for supporting life as we currently understand it.

This finding leads us back to the sulfuric acid-filled clouds of Venus. While Venus is often referred to as Earth’s sister planet, could it also be a celestial companion to thriving microorganisms?

In their paper titled “Stability of 20 Biogenic Amino Acids in Concentrated Sulfuric Acid: Implications for the Habitability of Venus’ Clouds,” Pętkowski and his fellow researchers assert that these findings significantly expand the range of biologically relevant molecules that could potentially exist in a biochemistry centered around a concentrated sulfuric acid solvent.

Solvent for life

Pętkowski’s focus lies in exploring various liquid solvents that could potentially support life, whether they exist on the surface, subsurface, or in the clouds of celestial bodies such as planets and moons. Understanding the fundamental chemistry that occurs in these alternative solvents is crucial in determining if complex organic chemistry can occur, remain stable, and be soluble. While water is the primary liquid solvent on Earth, Pętkowski emphasizes the presence of other liquid solvents within our solar system.

In addition to his interest in the search for extraterrestrial life, Pętkowski also delves into the study of biosignature gases, theoretical biochemistry, and the possibility of identifying universal laws of biology. To aid in this pursuit, he employs “cheminformatics” computer simulations to assist in designing future laboratory experiments.

Of particular interest to the research team is concentrated sulfuric acid as a potential solvent for life. The clouds of Venus are composed of liquid droplets of concentrated sulfuric acid, with acid concentrations ranging from 81% to 98%, while the remaining portion consists of water.

Furthermore, an essential component to consider in the composition of Venusian clouds is the continuous delivery of amino acids and other organic compounds through meteoritic material.

Morning Star initiative

Could the presence of an aggressive solvent in the clouds of Venus create conditions suitable for alien biochemistry? According to Pętkowski, if this is the case, any potential life on Venus would be fundamentally distinct from life on Earth. Pętkowski and his colleagues are driven to investigate organic chemistry in concentrated sulfuric acid to determine if complex reactions are taking place in the Venus cloud layers, located approximately 30 to 40 miles (48 to 64 kilometers) above the planet’s surface.

This research will also provide valuable insights for future missions to Venus, including the Rocket Lab Mission to Venus (formerly known as the Venus Life Finder mission), which is scheduled to launch in early 2025 atop a Rocket Lab Electron rocket. Additionally, the Morning Star Missions to Venus initiative, led by MIT astrophysicist and planetary scientist Sara Seager, will undertake subsequent projects.

Pętkowski serves as the deputy principal investigator for the Venus Life Finder Mission Concept Study.

The primary objective of the Venus Life Finder mission is to search for organic material within cloud-layer particles at different altitudes.

The Breakthrough Initiatives, a collection of privately funded space science programs supported by the foundation established by entrepreneurs Julia and Yuri Milner, played a crucial role in addressing the scientific and technical challenges associated with privately funded exploration of Venus.

Pete Worden, executive director of Breakthrough Initiatives, emphasized the growing interest in Venus as a potential habitat for past and possibly current life, referring to it as Earth’s “Evil Twin.” He stated that it is increasingly likely that Venus could support life, and there is even a possibility that life on Earth originated there.

Not universally hostile

Pętkowski stated that their research has demonstrated that concentrated sulfuric acid does not universally hinder organic chemistry. Surprisingly, numerous organic compounds remain stable and soluble for extended periods, if not longer, in this aggressive solvent.

In previous studies, the investigative team revealed that nucleic acid bases, which are crucial molecules for life, also remain stable in concentrated sulfuric acid. This finding advances the idea that the environment in the Venus atmosphere may have the capability to support the formation of complex chemicals necessary for life, Pętkowski added.

Pętkowski further stated that the unexpected discovery of amino acids’ stability in concentrated sulfuric acid provides additional evidence supporting the notion that complex organic chemistry can occur in the clouds of Venus. It is highly likely that organic chemistry is indeed present in the Venus clouds.

This article is republished from SpaceCom under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Do not forget to share your opinion with us to provide you with the best posts !