Possible Life-Supporting Clouds Found on Venus

A recent study published in Astrobiology examines the likelihood of the planet Venus being able to support life within the thick cloud layer that envelopes it. The study concludes that conditions in the clouds do not rule out life, although they do rule out Earth-like life. The researchers note that while smaller scale missions won’t answer all of the questions pertaining to Venus’ clouds, they will serve to “complement and inform larger missions” to Venus. Life on the surface of Venus seems extremely unlikely, but the clouds are the place to look.