Doubts over a ‘possible sign of life’ on Venus show how science works
It was one of those “big, if true” stories.
In September, scientists reported that Venus’ atmosphere seems to be laced with
phosphine, a possible sign of life.
Now there’s increasing emphasis on the “if.” As scientists take fresh looks at the data
behind the Venus announcement, and add other datasets to the mix, the original claim of
inexplicable amounts of phosphine is being called into doubt. And that’s a good thing, many
scientists say.
“It’s exactly how science should work,” says planetary scientist Paul Byrne of North Carolina
State University in Raleigh, who studies Venus but was not involved in any of the phosphine
papers. “It’s too early to say one way or the other what this detection means for Venus.”
(Adapted from: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/venus-phosphine-possible-sign-life-doubts-how-science-works).