Billions of years ago, Venus likely had oceans and an atmosphere similar to what we know on Earth today.
It is even often referred to by scientists as a "sister" of our star - although in reality, it is currently the least likely star in the solar system to harbor life.
The heat in it is even more extreme than in the planet Mercury - the star closest to it.
What happened to Venus, that caused it to "die" and turn from "our sister" into a toxic hell where the average temperature is over 370 degrees - and in some parts of it reaches up to 480 (and we are talking about degrees Celsius)?
We enlisted the help of Claude to understand what happened to the planet that could have been the second paradise for life in the solar system.
Evidence suggests that Venus originally formed under similar conditions and orbit to Earth, suggesting similar water reserves.
Although, most of the water was trapped in the envelopes of the planets - but it is likely that some of it rose, creating liquid oceans and an atmosphere on the surface of the planet.
From there it is a short way to assume that like Earth, Venus was also teeming with life - even if it is only microbes.
As stars (i.e. "suns") age, they gradually brighten, which means that the range for life-friendly stars grows outwards.
Early in the solar system, our giant ball of gas illuminated Venus perfectly for life.
However, the sun's gradual brightening caused Venus to heat up.
Although this warming was gradual, it created a "greenhouse effect" on Venus - more water evaporated from the oceans, trapping heat in the atmosphere and increasing the heat even faster.
This accelerated the evaporation of the oceans even more, and thus the circulation fueled itself until there was no liquid water left on the planet's surface.
Another factor that may have contributed to the final collapse was when there was no water left on the planet's surface, and its tectonic plates – if there ever were any – rubbed directly against each other, with no liquid to soften it, causing carbon dioxide levels to soar uncontrollably.
This is how the star came to its current state, where it is difficult to even explore it, because spacecrafts cannot approach it as they have been approaching and landing on Mars for decades.
While all this happened, Earth remained in the perfect range for life to exist - but scientists have no doubt that eventually, the Sun will cause Earth to cease to be a paradise, too.
It is estimated that this will happen in another half a billion years.
Today, as we know, various parties are looking into the possibility of expanding human settlement to Mars - which will remain within the range for sustaining life a little longer than we do, and will be a first step on the way to further and much greater distance from dependence on the sun.
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