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In a study published on May 14, 2025 in the journal Science Advances, experts discovered new evidence that Venus is still geologically active. Venus and Earth were similar in size and burst billions of years ago, releasing comparable amounts of water. This common origin has prompted concerns about why Venus became so inhospitable while Earth thrives in a cradle of life. After more than thirty years, NASA's Magellan spacecraft followed the surface of Venus, and scientists discovered hot material ascending signals from the planet's deep, indicating that the crust is still being formed.
Scientists say that Venus may still be geologically active
According to research, Venus has an active geological system that shapes its surface with internal heat. Scientists studied huge, ring-shaped formations known as coronae, which occur when a heated mantle forces the crust upside down and collapses into circular depressions.
According to Gael Cascioli, an assistant scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, this provides significant knowledge into subsurface motion. Out of 75 Coronae analyzed using NASA's Magellan mission data, 52 are located atop active, buoyant mantle plumes, which is difficult to accept.
Similarities Between Venus and Early Earth
According to Anna Gulcher, the study's co-leader, these continuous processes are identical to those that occur on Earth. Venus has hundreds of coronae, notably in the thin crust and high temperature regions.
Venus’ Surprisingly Thin Crust
Justin Filiberto of NASA's Astromaterials Research Division discovered that the Venus crust can break off or melt when it surpasses 65 kilometers in thickness, a thin barrier.
Crustal Recycling and Volcanic Activity
The crust shearing not only altered the surface, but it also recycled resources such as water in Venus' core, causing volcanic activity and atmospheric fluctuations. The process resets how Venus' geology, atmosphere, and crust interact concurrently.
Upcoming missions to reveal more
NASA's VERITAS and DAVINCI are among the prospective missions. Furthermore, ESA's EnVision will offer high-resolution data to validate the findings. Suzanne Smrekar emphasized that these missions might revolutionize our knowledge of Venue geology and provide information about the Earth's history.
