Venus may remain geologically active today. A new study, drawing on NASA's Magellan mission data, reveals deformed crustal fragments suggestive of recent activity—offering insights into early Earth dynamics.
After years in Mars' shadow, Venus is reclaiming the spotlight. NASA recently selected the DAVINCI+ and VERITAS missions—Discovery program finalists set for late-decade launches. The European Space Agency (ESA) has also greenlit its EnVision mission for the same timeframe.
These missions target a profound planetary puzzle: Earth and Venus, similar in size, proximity to the Sun, and composition, have diverged dramatically. Earth thrives as a habitable oasis; Venus endures as a hellish, acid-bathed inferno. Why the stark contrast?
A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides compelling clues.
Earth's surface evolves through plate tectonics, where massive crustal plates shift like puzzle pieces. Venus lacks traditional plate tectonics but may feature a unique variant.
Researchers identified Venus' surface as comprising about 60 crustal fragments—known as campi (Latin for 'fields')—ranging from Ireland to Alaska in size. These pieces appear to collide today, akin to vast ice floes navigating turbulent seas, per analysis reported in the Times.
“We have identified a previously unrecognized pattern of tectonic deformation on Venus that is driven by inward motion just like on Earth,” explains Paul Byrne, planetary scientist at North Carolina State University. “While different from the tectonics we currently see on Earth, this is still evidence of inner movement expressed on the surface of the planet.”
This discovery matters because Venus' internal heat engine mirrors Earth's 2.5 to 4 billion years ago, notes New Scientist. Studying 'modern' Venus could illuminate our planet's primordial state.
The findings stem from reanalyzing Magellan's radar images, captured until 2004 to penetrate Venus' thick atmosphere and map its surface. The team spotted these campi, then modeled them with gravity data to simulate mantle-driven crustal deformation.
Whether this activity persists is unclear—a key question for DAVINCI+, VERITAS, and EnVision. Confirmation would affirm Venus' ongoing geological vitality.
Deciphering Venus' 'tectonic tempo' also aids exoplanet studies, as billions of similar worlds in our galaxy may hinge on such processes for their evolution.
