Breaking: Scientists Confirm Existence of Vast Underground Lava Tubes on Venus
FINLAND – In a groundbreaking revelation, researchers have presented the first compelling evidence confirming the existence of extensive lava tubes beneath the surface of Venus. The findings,detailed in a new paper presented at the Europlanet Science Congress in Finland earlier this month,suggest Venus may harbor some of the largest subsurface cavities in the solar system.
The research, led by University of Padova researcher Barbara De Toffoli, analyzed surface features – specifically holes and large pits – previously spotted by astronomers. The team determined these formations align with the expected development of lava tubes, formed as the upper layer of a lava flow cools while molten lava continues to drain, leaving behind hollow conduits.
“Earth lava tubes have smaller volumes, Mars tubes have slightly bigger volumes, and then the Moon’s tubes have even bigger volumes,” de Toffoli stated, as quoted by New Scientist. “And then there’s Venus, entirely disrupting this trend, displaying very, very big tube volumes.” This unexpected scale points to unique geological processes at play on the planet.
The team’s modeling showed the Venusian cavities develop in a direction consistent with the slope of the terrain, further supporting the lava tube hypothesis. Despite Venus’ stronger gravitational forces compared to the Moon, the planet’s extremely hot and high-pressure habitat appears to allow for the growth of exceptionally large tubes.
“The characteristics of the observed Venusian lava tubes, especially their large scale, suggest that Venus may host some of the most extensive subsurface cavities in the solar system,” the researchers wrote in their paper.
Understanding these subsurface structures could provide crucial insights into Venus’ thermal and tectonic evolution, and its past and present conditions. The team is now advocating for a detailed investigation by the European Space Agency’s upcoming EnVision mission, scheduled to launch in late 2031. The mission’s Subsurface Radar Sounder (SRS) instrument will be key to further exploring these newly confirmed tunnels and unraveling the mysteries of Earth’s “so diffrent” neighbor, according to the ESA.
