Venus may have an underground tunnel carved by volcano eruptions, according to a recent study by scientists analyzing decades-old data from NASA's Magellan mission. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, suggests that a vast underground tunnel carved by volcanic activity could exist on Venus, marking only the second time a lava tube has been reported on the planet. The first discovery was made on the Moon, and another on Mars. The findings are significant because they could help validate theories about the existence of underground structures on Venus, a planet perpetually shrouded in dense clouds that block direct views of its surface. The Magellan orbiter mapped much of Venus' surface using radar between 1990 and 1992, revealing long chains of pits or collapsed areas that hint at the presence of underground lava tubes. The study focuses on localized surface collapses, which occur when sections of rock give way, creating skylight-like openings that can expose underground voids. One such feature, located on the western flank of Nyx Mons, one of Venus' 1,600 major volcanoes, produced a distinctive radar pattern closely matching signatures known to arise from collapsed lava tube roofs. The conduit could extend for a few dozen kilometers underground, but only part of the structure can currently be confirmed. Confirming its full size, shape, and stability will require new observations, which may come soon with upcoming missions to Venus carrying more advanced radar instruments capable of capturing higher-resolution images.
