"Unraveling the Mystery of Venus's Escaping Carbon and Oxygen"

Data from the BepiColombo space probe indicates that Venus is losing carbon and oxygen from its atmosphere due to the escape of charged particles accelerated by sunlight. The lack of a stable magnetic field on Venus allows these ions to escape into space, shedding light on the planet's fragile magnetic environment. Understanding the mechanisms behind this atmospheric loss is crucial for comprehending Venus' evolution and the depletion of its water. This research could pave the way for future missions to Venus, including the upcoming Envision spacecraft and the delayed NASA's DAVINCI and VERITAS missions.