GoKawiilMIT study finds peptides can survive in Venus-like sulfuric acid solution
MIT researchers created a laboratory solution of 98% sulfuric acid, mimicking conditions in Venus's clouds, and tested whether complex organic molecules such as peptides could remain stable in it. The peptides retained their structure, contradicting the long-held assumption that such acidity would immediately destroy complex chemistry.
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The finding could reopen debate about whether Venus's clouds might support some form of exotic biochemistry, since acidity alone may not be the barrier scientists once assumed. Researchers may now push to test other biomolecules under similar conditions to see how far this chemical resilience extends, though this remains far from evidence of actual life on Venus.
- MIT recreated Venus's 98% sulfuric acid cloud chemistry in the lab.
- Peptides tested in the solution remained structurally stable.
- Result challenges the assumption that Venus's acidity rules out complex chemistry.
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Published there as: “Scientists Thought Venus Was Too Acidic for Complex Chemistry. It May Actually Be Weirdly Hospitable”
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