New research suggests that Venus, Earth’s closest planetary neighbor, probably never had oceans. Although Venus is similar in size and rocky composition to Earth, the study found that its interior is very dry. Scientists analyzed volcanic gases in Venus’s atmosphere, revealing an interior with little water. They believe that Venus’s surface was once covered in molten rock, which prevented the formation of liquid water. Unlike Earth, where volcanic gases are over 60% water vapor, Venusian volcanic gases contain less than 6%, pointing to a dry past. This challenges earlier ideas of hidden water reservoirs and confirms that Venus’s extreme surface conditions make it uninhabitable.

The study offers important insights into how planets evolve and become habitable. It shows how two planets with similar traits can develop differently because of their early conditions. Venus has extreme surface temperatures of 465°C, atmospheric pressure 90 times that of Earth, and sulfuric acid clouds, making it impossible for life. On the other hand, Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has signs of past liquid water, with possible underground reservoirs. Future missions like NASA’s DAVINCI and ESA’s EnVision will explore Venus’s atmosphere and surface, helping us understand why Venus and Earth, often called sister planets, took such different evolutionary paths.