The academician noted that experts from this institution, which belongs to the Russian Academy of Sciences, are searching for biomarkers of primitive life in the atmosphere and on the surface of Venus.

They will use two balloons from the Venera-D mission, deployed at an altitude of about 50 kilometers, for this purpose.

Zeleny remembered that an absorption line had previously been discovered in the cloud layer of Venus, presumably related to microbial activity. He noted that these conditions could be conducive to life according to Earth’s standards.

The scientists will also continue to analyze the planet’s surface, despite the extreme conditions. Zeleny emphasized that panoramic images taken by Soviet spacecraft revealed structures that changed from one image to the next. He argued that if this movement were due to ordinary rocks or stones, it would be difficult to explain.

The expert said that life does not necessarily have to be protein-based or similar to life on Earth. He added, “Life is self-organizing; it can occur at different temperatures and under different conditions.

Therefore, the existence of life on the surface of Venus is also a very serious scientific hypothesis that needs to be tested.”

jdt/iff/mem/gfa