Venus Phosphine: Updates and lessons learned

TL;DR

The paper discusses the discovery of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere, its implications for astrobiology, and lessons learned from scientific, media, and public reactions, emphasizing the need for further data and monitoring.

Contribution

It provides an update on Venus phosphine research, introduces the JCMT-Venus monitoring program, and reviews lessons from the discovery's scientific and societal impact.

Findings

Phosphine detection in Venus' atmosphere is robust and supported by archival data.

Abiotic sources for phosphine are largely ruled out, suggesting an unknown origin.

The discovery has significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.

Abstract

The discovery of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere provides lessons for the search for life. The detection has survived all challenges and has acquired independent support from archival data from PVP. The presence of phosphine in Venus' oxidising environment is perplexing, and comprehensive studies rule out all known abiotic sources. More data is needed to understand the origin of phosphine, leading to JCMT-Venus, a long term atmospheric monitoring programme. This can find how phosphine varies in relation to other species providing clues to its origin. We present the latest JCMT-Venus results. The discovery and subsequent papers were explicit that they did not constitute evidence for life, only of phosphine. Media and public reaction to the discovery and its implications provide lessons for future life searches, as does the reaction of the scientific community. How this was handled by the team, media, and general public will be reviewed.