Venus' Toxic Atmosphere May Lead to Discovery of Habitable Planets.
Researchers from the University of California, Riverside, have examined the atmospheres of exoVenuses, exoplanets that lie within the Venus Zone (VZ), to better understand the runaway greenhouse effect of Venus and its past. The researchers hope to identify what caused Venus to develop into the inhospitable planet it is today, which could help identify which exoplanets should or should not be targeted in atmospheric observations with the James Webb Space Telescope or other future facilities. The study also suggests that studying Venus could help improve current climate models of exoVenuses, which could help scientists predict their climates.