Potential Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life on Venus Could Be Confirmed Through New British Mission
The United Kingdom is spearheading a new mission, named VERVE (Venus Explorer for Reduced Vapours in the Environment), to investigate the possibility of microbial life in the clouds of Venus. This ambitious project is focused on detecting trace gases that could indicate biological activity, such as phosphine and ammonia, which have been controversially reported in Venus’s atmosphere[1].
The discovery of these gases has sparked intriguing speculation about potential life in Venus' upper atmosphere. The initial detection of phosphine was part of the JCMT-Venus project, led by Dr. Dave Clements, and was first reported by Jane Greaves, a professor at Cardiff University in Wales, U.K., in 2020[1]. The presence of these gases has been confirmed in subsequent years, with detections made in 2023 and 2024[1].
The VERVE mission is designed to confirm the presence or absence of alien microbes in Venus' atmosphere by detecting these potential biosignature gases. The mission concept involves a CubeSat that would fly alongside ESA's EnVision mission, a Venus orbiter, scheduled for launch in 2031[1]. This collaboration aims to study the Venusian atmosphere directly and settle the question of whether life exists in the planet’s upper clouds.
Phosphine and ammonia are potential biomarkers, signs of microbial life, and can only be produced by biological activity and industrial processes on Earth. However, their presence in Venus' atmosphere has been a mystery, with no clear explanation for their origin[1]. Dr. Clements suggests that the variation in the presence of phosphine could be explained by it being broken down by sunlight[1].
The discovery of these gases in Venus' atmosphere has significant implications for astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life. The VERVE mission is a key effort in this field, aiming to provide answers about whether the gases in Venus' atmosphere are signs of biological activity or an unknown chemical process[1].
However, the future of this mission and other related projects is uncertain. The Trump Administration's proposed budget cuts could potentially end NASA's DAVINCI mission, an orbiter and atmospheric probe due to launch in 2030, which could have detected phosphine and ammonia on Venus[1]. This decision could hinder the progress of the search for life beyond Earth.
The VERVE mission was revealed at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting 2025 in Durham, U.K[1]. The mission, if successful, could redefine our understanding of the universe and the potential for life beyond our planet.
[1] BBC News. (2025, June 1). UK leads new mission to search for life on Venus. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57420362
In the realm of science and space-and-astronomy, the United Kingdom's VERVE mission, a collaboration with ESA's EnVision mission, aims to unravel the mystery surrounding potential life in Venus' upper atmosphere by detecting trace gases like phosphine and ammonia, which could indicate microbial life. This mission is a significant technology-driven endeavor in the field of astrobiology, seeking to provide answers about extraterrestrial life signs in the Venusian atmosphere.
To further explore life on Venus, the discovery of its atmospheric gases such as phosphine and ammonia, potential biomarkers of microbial life, has sparked debates in the scientific community. However, the presence of these gases remains unexplained, adding to the intrigue and urgency for space missions like VERVE.
