Phosphine detected on Venus – An indicator of possible life?

Astronomers detect phosphine molecules in high cloud decks, speculating signs of life on Venus.

Scientists analyzed the observation data and found that there is a gaseous compound called hydrogen phosphide in the atmosphere of Venus.

On Earth, hydrogen phosphide is closely related to life. It exists in the intestines of penguins where the microbe lives, as well as in marshy environments where oxygen does not circulate.

Humans are capable of producing hydrogen phosphide for industrial use. Scientists are now investigating why hydrogen phosphide is present in the atmosphere 50 kilometers above the ground, even though Venus does not have an industrial or animal intestinal environment.