Huge rift valleys on Venus hint at a still-living planet
A new study of huge rift valleys on Venus shows that they are likely younger than previously thought, and might still be geologically active today. The post Huge rift valleys on Venus hint at a still-living planet first appeared on EarthSky .
New research from ETH Zurich indicates that Venus may still be geologically active, despite previous assumptions of a dormant planet. The study analyzed huge rift valleys on Venus and found they likely formed more recently than thought. If active today, the valleys could be widening at a rate of 3-10 centimeters (1-4 inches) per year.
This suggests the planet could still be experiencing tectonic activity beneath its thick haze and clouds. Previous evidence of active volcanoes on Venus also supports this theory. Future missions, such as the European Space Agency’s EnVision, NASA’s VERITAS and DAVINCI, ISRO’s Venus Orbiter Mission, and Rocket Lab/MIT’s Venus Life Finder, could focus on these regions to learn more about Venus' ongoing geological activity.
Written by urgent.news from EarthSky's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
