Scientists have discovered a massive lava tube lurking beneath the surface of Venus

Scientists may have discovered the first evidence of underground tunnels that lie beneath the surface of Venus, carved out by the planet’s ancient volcanic activity.

A team of researchers from the University of Trento has spotted what appears to be an underground lava tube on Venus, the first subsurface feature ever discovered on a volcanic world. The findings, detailed in a study published in Nature this month, could confirm long-standing theories about volcanism on Venus and how it shaped the planet.

« Our knowledge of Venus is still limited, and until now we have never had the opportunity to directly observe processes taking place below the surface of Earth’s twin planet, » Lorenzo Bruzzone, a professor at the University of Trento and co-author of the study, said in a statement. « The identification of a volcanic cavity is therefore of particular importance, as it allows us to confirm theories that for many years only suggested their existence. »

A secret cave

The scientists behind the study examined radio data collected by the Megallen mission between 1990 and 1992. The spacecraft pierced the thick clouds of Venus to map its surface using synthetic aperture radar.

The team analyzed the radar images to look for signs of localized surface collapse and found what they believe to be an empty, subsurface lava tube near the planet Nux Mons Volcano. The lava tube is about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) wide, which is larger than those found on Earth and Mars. Its roof is about 490 feet (150 meters) thick and boasts an empty cavity that is at least a quarter mile (375 meters) high.

Lava tubes are underground tunnels created by volcanic activity. They are usually formed as a byproduct of basaltic lava flows, where low-viscosity lava continues to flow below the surface of the solidifying lava.

Venus is the most volcanically active planet in the Solar System, and the planet’s extreme volcanism has shaped its surface. Scientists have long theorized that Venus’ volcanic history may also have led to a large underground network of lava tubes, but this has so far been difficult to detect due to the planet’s thick atmosphere.

Underground tunnels

The discovery of the first lava tube on Venus suggests there may be more beneath the planet’s surface. « This discovery contributes to a deeper understanding of the processes that shaped the evolution of Venus and opens new perspectives for the study of the planet, » said Bruzzone.

The researchers behind the study suggest that new high-resolution images and data obtained from surface-penetrating radar systems are needed to determine whether there are more lava tubes on Venus.

Upcoming missions like NASA’s VERITAS and the European Space Agency’s EnVision, set to launch in 2031, may just have what it takes to peer beneath the surface of Venus in search of ancient tunnels carved by the planet’s volcanic history.