Phosphine

An international team of astronomers Monday announced the discovery of a rare gas molecule — phosphine — in the clouds of Venus.

On Earth, phosphine is only made industrially or by microbes that thrive in oxygen-free environments.

The researchers say on Earth, phosphine is only made industrially or by microbes that thrive in oxygen-free environments. The international team, which includes researchers from Britain, the U.S. and Japan, published their findings in two papers — the science journal Nature on Monday, and Astrobiology journal on Saturday.