Scientists found the first direct evidence of volcanic activity on Venus, revealing a massive underground lava tube using radar data.

Scientists have found the first direct evidence of volcanic activity on Venus, identifying a massive underground lava tube beneath the planet's surface using radar data from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft. The discovery, led by researchers at the University of Trento and published in Nature Communications, reveals a skylight in the Nyx Mons region, indicating a collapsed section of a lava tube likely formed by ancient lava flows. The tube, estimated to be at least 45 kilometers long, is larger than similar structures on Earth, Mars, and the Moon. Because Venus’s thick clouds block optical imaging, radar was essential for detecting surface features like pit chains and terrain depressions. The findings support theories of past volcanic activity and highlight the importance of upcoming missions—NASA’s Veritas and ESA’s Envision—which will use advanced radar to explore Venus’s surface and subsurface in greater detail.