Venus has lava tubes, and they're weird
New Scientist2 days
Scientists Confirm Massive Lava Tubes Exist on Venus
Above: The northern hemisphere of the surface of Venus. Image copyright: Universal History Archive/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Venus breaks all the rules when it comes to lava tubes, and that's precisely what makes this discovery so exciting. These massive underground tunnels rival those on the Moon in size, despite Venus having Earth-like gravity — a phenomenon that contradicts everything scientists thought they knew. The extreme pressure and heat on Venus create a unique flattening effect that produces some of the most extensive subsurface cavities in the solar system.
Narrative B
While confirming lava tubes on Venus highlights solid scientific progress, the focus on their unusual size may be overstated, given the limited sample of just four confirmed examples. The fracture analysis of coronae structures provides more comprehensive insights into Venus's geological processes — revealing deep mechanical coupling between the crust and mantle that could generate detectable seismic activity for future orbital missions.
Metaculus Prediction
Editor's Note
This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.