Exobiology of the Venusian Clouds: New Insights into Habitability through Terrestrial Models and Methods of Detection

Kotsyurbenko, O. R.; Cordova, Jaime; Belov, A. A.; Cheptsov, V. S.; Kölbl, Denise; Khrunyk, Yuliya; Kryuchkova, M.O.; Milojevic, Tetyana; Mogul, Rakesh; Sasaki, Satoshi; Słowik, Grzegorz; Снытников, В. Н.; Vorobyova, E. A.

doi:10.1089/ast.2020.2296

Cited by 26 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 184 publications

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“…The higher diversity of metabolic pathways occurring at the decomposition of organic matter within the system, and the higher adaptive properties of microbial communities under the changing environment [64,65]. An important condition for all the above-mentioned adaptation strategies to drastically changing environmental parameters is the presence of a unified water volume in the habitat where all the necessary metabolic exchange reactions and cycling biological processes occur [18,62,63].…”

Section: The Basic Conditions For the Stable Existence Of Microbial Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such a hypothetical microbial community inhabiting the Venusian cloud layer can consist of thermo-acidophilic chemolithotrophic anaerobic microorganisms (Figure 1). They consume energy released in oxidative-reduction reactions involving sulfur and iron [18,64]. Microbial sulfate and iron reduction coupled with iron-dependent denitrification which can result in the formation of gaseous products is among the simplest biochemical cycles possibly occurring in this ecosystem (Figure 7).…”

Section: The Basic Conditions For the Stable Existence Of Microbial Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is assumed that the Venusian cloud layer at the altitudes within the temperature range of 50-80 • C are the most suitable zone providing a new type of extraterrestrial ecological niche with sulfuric acid-water foam structure as described above [14,18,57]. Presumably, at higher altitudes under increased exposure to UV and cosmic radiation, foam structure can actively participate in photocatalytic processes of organics and water decomposition [66].…”

Section: The Basic Conditions For the Stable Existence Of Microbial Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The discovery of an unknown compound within Venusian clouds, the UV absorption spectrum of which was similar to that of biomacromolecules, has significantly supported this habitability concept [13,14]. Recently, all the ideas related to hypothetical Venusian microorganisms and their possible biochemical properties were summarized [5,[15][16][17][18]. Astrobiologists consider Venusian clouds to be a habitable environment for extreme forms of life similar to extremophiles on Earth based on a habitability concept that includes: (1) the presence of a solvent needed for biochemical reactions, (2) appropriate physicochemical conditions, (3) available energy sources, and (4) biologically relevant elements C N P S O H [8,18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Recently, all the ideas related to hypothetical Venusian microorganisms and their possible biochemical properties were summarized [5,[15][16][17][18]. Astrobiologists consider Venusian clouds to be a habitable environment for extreme forms of life similar to extremophiles on Earth based on a habitability concept that includes: (1) the presence of a solvent needed for biochemical reactions, (2) appropriate physicochemical conditions, (3) available energy sources, and (4) biologically relevant elements C N P S O H [8,18]. Finally, Seager and co-authors suggested a scheme describing the life cycle of microbial cells within Venusian clouds which would enable the preservation of the critical microbial biomass needed for the reproduction and functioning of the whole microbial system [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Water–Sulfuric Acid Foam as a Possible Habitat for Hypothetical Microbial Community in the Cloud Layer of Venus

Складнев

Karlov

Khrunyk

et al. 2021

Life

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The data available at the moment suggest that ancient Venus was covered by extensive bodies of water which could harbor life. Later, however, the drastic overheating of the planet made the surface of Venus uninhabitable for Earth-type life forms. Nevertheless, hypothetical Venusian organisms could have gradually adapted to conditions within the cloud layer of Venus—the only niche containing liquid water where the Earth-type extremophiles could survive. Here we hypothesize that the unified internal volume of a microbial community habitat is represented by the heterophase liquid-gas foam structure of Venusian clouds. Such unity of internal space within foam water volume facilitates microbial cells movements and trophic interactions between microorganisms that creates favorable conditions for the effective development of a true microbial community. The stabilization of a foam heterophase structure can be provided by various surfactants including those synthesized by living cells and products released during cell lysis. Such a foam system could harbor a microbial community of different species of (poly)extremophilic microorganisms that are capable of photo- and chemosynthesis and may be closely integrated into aero-geochemical processes including the processes of high-temperature polymer synthesis on the planet’s surface. Different complex nanostructures transferred to the cloud layers by convection flows could further contribute to the stabilization of heterophase liquid-gas foam structure and participate in chemical and photochemical reactions, thus supporting ecosystem stability.

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Section: The Basic Conditions For the Stable Existence Of Microbial Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Basic Conditions For the Stable Existence Of Microbial Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Basic Conditions For the Stable Existence Of Microbial Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Water–Sulfuric Acid Foam as a Possible Habitat for Hypothetical Microbial Community in the Cloud Layer of Venus

Складнев

Karlov

Khrunyk

et al. 2021

Life

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Synergies between Venus & Exoplanetary Observations

Way

Ostberg

Foley

et al. 2022

Preprint

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In this chapter we examine how our knowledge of present day Venus can inform terrestrial exoplanetary science and how exoplanetary science can inform our study of Venus. In a superficial way the contrasts in knowledge appear stark. We have been looking at Venus for millennia and studying it via telescopic observations for centuries. Spacecraft observations began with Mariner 2 in 1962 when we confirmed that Venus was a hothouse planet, rather than the tropical paradise science fiction pictured. As long as our level of exploration and understanding of Venus remains far below that of Mars, major questions will endure. On the other hand, exoplanetary science has grown leaps and bounds since the discovery of Pegasus 51b in 1995, not too long after the golden years of Venus spacecraft missions came to an end with the Magellan Mission in 1994. Multi-million to billion dollar/euro exoplanet focused spacecraft missions such as JWST, ARIEL and their successors will be flown in the coming decades. At the same time, excitement about Venus exploration is blooming again with a number of confirmed and proposed missions in the coming decades from India, Russia, Japan, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In this chapter, we review what is known and what we may discover tomorrow in complementary studies of Venus and its exoplanetary cousins.

show abstract

Synergies Between Venus & Exoplanetary Observations

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Here we examine how our knowledge of present day Venus can inform terrestrial exoplanetary science and how exoplanetary science can inform our study of Venus. In a superficial way the contrasts in knowledge appear stark. We have been looking at Venus for millennia and studying it via telescopic observations for centuries. Spacecraft observations began with Mariner 2 in 1962 when we confirmed that Venus was a hothouse planet, rather than the tropical paradise science fiction pictured. As long as our level of exploration and understanding of Venus remains far below that of Mars, major questions will endure. On the other hand, exoplanetary science has grown leaps and bounds since the discovery of Pegasus 51b in 1995, not too long after the golden years of Venus spacecraft missions came to an end with the Magellan Mission in 1994. Multi-million to billion dollar/euro exoplanet focused spacecraft missions such as JWST, and its successors will be flown in the coming decades. At the same time, excitement about Venus exploration is blooming again with a number of confirmed and proposed missions in the coming decades from India, Russia, Japan, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Here we review what is known and what we may discover tomorrow in complementary studies of Venus and its exoplanetary cousins.

show abstract

Exobiology of the Venusian Clouds: New Insights into Habitability through Terrestrial Models and Methods of Detection

Cited by 26 publications

References 184 publications

Water–Sulfuric Acid Foam as a Possible Habitat for Hypothetical Microbial Community in the Cloud Layer of Venus

Water–Sulfuric Acid Foam as a Possible Habitat for Hypothetical Microbial Community in the Cloud Layer of Venus

Synergies between Venus & Exoplanetary Observations

Synergies Between Venus & Exoplanetary Observations

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