Venus may have once had oceans of carbon dioxide

Venus may have once had oceans of carbon dioxide
(Image credit: NASA/JPL)

Despite being known for its "hellish" conditions, the planet Venus may actually have had oceans on its surface, according to a study in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. The catch? Unlike Earth's water-filled oceans, Venus' may have consisted of a liquid-like form of carbon dioxide.

Scientists conducting research this summer found that Venus may have had enough water in its atmosphere at one point to cover the entire planet in an ocean about 80 feet deep, according to Discovery News. But because the extremely warm surface of Venus likely made it impossible for such an ocean to form, scientists concluded that instead of massive oceans of water, the planet may have once been home to oceans of carbon dioxide fluid.

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Kimberly Alters

Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.