Sharmila Kuthunur is a Seattle-based science journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. Follow her on X @skuthunur
Scientists have identified a water-loss mechanism on Venus that could explain how the once water-rich world became completely parched.
Prior studies suggest that both Venus and Earth likely received similar amounts of water early in their history, mostly from water vapor-spewing volcanoes and icy comets that frequently bombarded the worlds. Estimates suggest Venus once had enough moisture to cover its surface in about 1.8 miles of water.
In the new study, the researchers suggested the remnant water was removed via a new mechanism known as HCO+ dissociative recombination . In this process, positively charged hydrogen, carbon and oxygen atoms combine with negatively charged electrons to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen as a byproduct, after which the hydrogen escapes into space.
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