The detection of phosphine in Venus' clouds is a big deal – here's how we can find out if it's a sign of life
- Written by Paul K. Byrne, Associate Professor of Planetary Science, North Carolina State University
A radar mosaic image of Venus.NASA.govOn Sept. 14, 2020, a new planet was added to the list of potentially habitable worlds in the Solar System: Venus.
Phosphine, a toxic gas made up of one phosphorus and three hydrogen atoms (PH₃), commonly produced by organic life forms but otherwise difficult to make on rocky planets, was discovered in...

