Venus vs. Earth: The Surprising Truths of Our Solar System's "Evil Twin"

Venus and Earth are so different that a seemingly foolish question like, "What's longer, a day or a year?" makes perfect sense on Venus. A day on Venus lasts 243 Earth days, while a year is only 225 Earth days. This means on Venus, a day is longer than a year! Venus, often nicknamed Earth's "evil twin," has stark differences from Earth despite being similar in size.

Ancient Venus might have resembled Earth more closely, with NASA scientists suggesting it could have hosted liquid water oceans and moderate temperatures suitable for life for up to 2 billion years. However, modern-day Venus is drastically different, with extreme temperatures and a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere. What caused this cosmic transformation? The planet's size, location, and internal heat played significant roles.

Interestingly, there were three planets in our solar system that could have hosted life: Venus, Earth, and Mars. Picture three cupcakes in an oven: one is placed in front of an open window in winter (Mars), one is covered with a kitchen towel (Earth), and the last one is left in the oven (Venus). Mars became too cold, Earth remained just right, and Venus turned scorching hot.

Earth's development has been slow and steady, maintaining stable oceans, atmosphere, and biodiversity. In contrast, Venus experienced a runaway greenhouse effect, evaporating its oceans and becoming unbearably hot. Mars, on the other hand, might have once had flowing rivers and lakes, but now it's a frozen desert with traces of its watery past.

Mars still has water in polar ice caps and minerals in rocks. These hydrous minerals include clays, hydrates, and silicates, which contain water within their structures. Scientists have successfully grown plants in Martian-like conditions, demonstrating that agriculture might be possible on Mars. The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) also shows promise for producing oxygen on Mars, which could be crucial for future missions.

Energy sources on Mars could include solar, wind, and geothermal power. Solar power is less effective due to weaker sunlight and dust storms, but wind and geothermal energy could be reliable alternatives. While both Mars and Earth have moons, with Mars having two, Venus has none. This absence remains a mystery for scientists.

Despite Venus's extreme conditions, recent studies suggest it might still harbor potential for life. A 2020 MIT study found 19 amino acids surviving in a Venus-like solution for a month. Rocket Lab and MIT are planning the Venus Life Finder mission to search for signs of life in Venus's atmosphere, using a special instrument called an autofluorescing nephelometer. Originally set to launch in 2023, the mission is now scheduled for December 2024, with arrival at Venus in May 2025.

In 2020, scientists announced the detection of phosphine on Venus, a compound potentially linked to life. While this discovery has stirred excitement, it remains controversial. Scientists are re-evaluating old NASA data and planning new missions to confirm the presence of phosphine and understand its source. If phosphine is found, it could suggest some form of life producing it in Venus's clouds.

To date, there have been 46 space missions to Venus, including flybys and landings. The last successful landing on Venus was in June 1985 as part of the Vega 2 mission. The Venus Life Finder mission aims to uncover more about this enigmatic planet and its potential for life.

Venus's transformation from a potentially habitable world to a hostile environment serves as a reminder of the dynamic and unpredictable nature of planetary evolution. While we continue to explore and uncover the mysteries of our solar system, Venus remains a fascinating subject of study, offering insights into both its past and its potential for future discoveries.

[Written with assist of AI for grammar, readability, and fact checking.] - Mc