Scientists, reviewing decades of data from NASA's historic Magellan mission, claim to have spotted something truly spectacular beneath the hot surface of Venus: a vast underground tunnel, likely carved by ancient volcanic activity.
If confirmed, the discovery would be the second report of alava tubeon Venus, adding to evidence already found on the Moon and Mars, and adding to a growing body of evidence that challenges the traditional view of Venus as a geologically "dead" planet.
Venus is not as quiet as we thought
For decades, Venus was thought to be a world where volcanic activity had long since died out. However, new analyses suggest that the planet may still harbor geological life beneath its dense mantle.
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Lorenzo Bruzzone, a co-author of the study from the University of Trento in Italy, explains that our knowledge remains limited, as until now we have not been able to directly observe processes under the surface of Earth's "twin" planet. The identification of such a volcanic cavity, he notes, allows scientists to confirm theories that for years remained only hypotheses.
Radar instead of cameras: How we see below the clouds
Venus is constantly covered by thick clouds that prevent any direct visual observation of its surface. This means that scientists cannot rely on classic photographs, but on radar technologies.
That's where NASA's Magellan mission comes in, which mapped much of Venus between 1990 and 1992 with a specially designed radar system. The spacecraft sent radio waves toward the surface and measured the time it took for them to return, creating detailed maps.
These maps revealed large chains of cavities, in some cases extending for tens or even thousands of kilometers. This suggested the existence of underground lava tubes on a large scale.
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New discovery at Nyx Mons
In the new study, Bruzzone's team focused on specific surface collapses — areas where sections of rock give way, creating openings that resemble skylights and reveal underground voids.
One such feature was spotted on the western flank of Nyx Mons, one of about 1,600 large volcanoes that dominate Venus, along with nearly a million smaller ones. The feature displayed a radar pattern that matches the known signatures of collapsed lava tube roofs.
Analysis of the surrounding terrain indicates that the pipeline could extend for several tens of kilometers underground, although at present only part of the structure can be confirmed.
The next missions will provide the answers
Fully understanding the size, shape, and stability of this possible underground tunnel will require new observations. And that opportunity appears to be approaching.
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A new fleet of missions to Venus is expected to bring more advanced, high-resolution radar instruments . Among them is the Subsurface Radar Sounder (SRS), planned for the European Space Agency's EnVision mission
The SRS will be able to "see" below the surface at depths of hundreds of meters and potentially detect tunnels even without visible openings on the surface.
A discovery that opens a new chapter
As Bruzzone points out, this finding may be just the beginning of a long and exciting research journey. Venus, a planet that for years was considered inactive, may be hiding much more dynamic processes than we imagined.
The research was published on February 9 in the scientific journal Nature Communications and is already rekindling interest in Earth's most mysterious neighbor.
