University of Arkansas receives NASA grant to study atmosphere of Venus

[Emily]

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/un...ives-nasa-grant-to-study-atmosphere-of-venus/

University of Arkansas receives NASA grant to study atmosphere of Venus

by: Tristan Hill
Posted: Nov 24, 2020 / 09:48 AM CST / Updated: Nov 24, 2020 / 09:52 AM CST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — University of Arkansas researchers received a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to study the interaction between the atmosphere and surface of Venus.
The $417,000, three-year award will provide the funding for UA researchers to simulate conditions on the surface of Earth’s neighboring planet in the W.M. Keck Laboratory’s Venus chamber, one of five such simulators at the university.
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According to Chevrier, the recent discovery of phosphine gas in Venus’ atmosphere is one example of the importance of the research. Phosphine gas is a marker of biological activity on earth. One possible explanation for the presence of phosphine is life, but he says there may be others.

“There could be a whole collection of reactions we do not really know about because they happen differently in a supercritical fluid,” Chevrier said. “That was one of my arguments against phosphine being a life marker. We need to exhaust all possible atmospheric scenarios before saying it is related to the existence of life.”..

 

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