Could Subterranean Tunnels on Venus Shelter Future Human Explorers?
Venus is often called Earth’s “sister planet” because of their similarities in size, mass, and composition. Both worlds are rocky, born around the same time in the inner Solar System. Yet, despite these striking parallels, Venus took a dramatically different path. Its surface bakes at around 465°C, its atmosphere exerts 90 times the pressure of Earth’s, and thick clouds of sulphuric acid swirl endlessly above.
How could two planets so alike at birth end up so radically different? This question has long fascinated planetary scientists, and Venus’s volcanic history may hold the key.
The Power of Volcanism: Shaping Venus and Earth
Like Earth, Venus is geologically active. Its surface is dominated by vast volcanic plains, massive shield volcanoes, and extensive lava flows. Periodic eruptions have resurfaced the planet, sculpting landscapes that mirror volcanic terrains on our own world.
Studying these volcanic features—particularly what lies beneath them—offers scientists rare insights. Could understanding Venus’s hidden underground structures help explain why Earth became habitable while Venus turned into a planetary furnace?
Discovery of Lava Tubes on Venus
An international research team led by Barbara De Toffoli (University of Padova) has uncovered the first strong evidence of lava tubes on Venus. Using radar images and topographic data from past missions, the team focused on giant shield volcanoes over 100 kilometers wide.
They identified four curving chains of pits, clear indicators of collapsed lava tubes. On Earth and the Moon, such pits form when the roof of an underground lava tunnel caves in. For Venus, this is the first observational evidence that these subterranean tunnels exist.
Why Lava Tubes Matter: Past, Present, and Future
Lava tubes aren’t just geological curiosities. They provide a direct window into Venus’s volcanic past and could refine models of its thermal and tectonic evolution. Unlike tectonic fractures—which form straight pit chains as crust stretches apart—these Venusian features snake downhill, consistent with lava’s natural flow.
Could these tubes also have a role in the future? Their subsurface nature might one day offer shelter for human explorers, shielding them from Venus’s extreme surface heat and crushing atmosphere. It sounds like science fiction, but planetary scientists take the possibility seriously.
What Sets Venus’s Lava Tubes Apart?
The newly discovered pits share key traits:
They curve sinuously across volcanic slopes.
Their orientation follows the downhill direction of ancient lava flows.
Their sizes differ from tectonic pits, supporting a volcanic origin.
All four examples lie on the flanks of shield volcanoes where lava once poured in great volumes—precisely the conditions where tubes would be expected.
A Glimpse into the Future: Upcoming Missions to Venus
Studying Venus has always been a challenge due to its harsh surface conditions. But upcoming missions promise a breakthrough. ESA’s EnVision mission, equipped with a Subsurface Radar Sounder, may reveal the full extent of these tunnels. Could it confirm sprawling networks hidden beneath Venus’s crust? Might these findings reshape our understanding of the planet’s volcanic—and perhaps even habitable—potential?
The Bigger Question: Why Did Earth Survive While Venus Did Not?
The discovery of lava tubes adds a vital piece to Venus’s puzzle. Volcanism shaped both Earth and Venus, yet their evolutionary paths diverged wildly. Why did Earth’s volcanic history lead to oceans, life, and stability, while Venus spiraled into runaway greenhouse conditions?
As researchers uncover more about Venus’s subterranean landscapes, we may finally inch closer to answering one of planetary science’s most profound questions: Why did two sister planets become such strangers?
Source: Could Subterranean Tunnels on Venus Shelter Future Human Explorers?
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