New research suggests that the key building blocks of life may be able to withstand the harsh, sulfuric acid-rich environment of Venus’ upper atmosphere, hinting at the potential for extraterrestrial life to exist in our solar system’s most inhospitable planet.
A Home Away From Planet: The Venusian Atmosphere
Think of Venus as a ‘hellscape’, with surface temperatures to melt lead and an atmosphere composed almost entirely of carbon dioxide, mixed in with sulfuric acid. However, its vast atmosphere might include pockets that are surprisingly Earth-like and could host life.
Although the inhospitable Venusian surface is as it appears too harsh for any life like those on Earth, the upper atmosphere of this planet has aroused interest among astrobiologists [10]. The possibility of life existing in the cloud decks of Venus (such as potential biomarkers like phosphine, which was later refuted) has only fueled this intrigue. This proximity, relative to exoplanets at great distances, makes Venus an attractive target for exploration and examination.
Lipids: Making it Through the Acid Test
In a study published in June, researchers at the University of Chicago have made strides in determining whether Venus’ atmosphere is habitable. The team concentrated on the resistance of lipids — the basic stuff of cell membranes — to conditions in Venus’ sulfuric acid-laden air.
To address that key question directly, the researchers added simple lipids to a solution of sulfuric acid in laboratory experiments and then assessed whether or not these lipids resist decomposition by this strong acid, and if they can form stable higher-order structures as they do in Earth cells. To their surprise, the researchers found that while most lipids were destroyed by the acid, some could survive against all odds and even localize to stable structures, hinting at an unexpected level of adaptibility in the chemistry underlying life.
Conclusion
Though it is not enough to definitively say there could be life in Venus´s clouds, a new study from a team of researchers offers an intriguing possibility. Indeed, the researchers have provided fresh leads on where and how to investigate habitability with their successful demonstration of a sulfuric acid-resistant lipid membrane. But as our understanding of the bounds of life — and how many ways that life could adapt to them — grows, the case for extraterrestrial life somewhere within our own solar system is becoming more compelling.
