Scientists now believe that large bodies of liquid could have existed on Venus, provided they were comprised of carbon dioxide.

Though many surface features of Venus point to the past existence of oceans, that water could have ever survived on the fiery planet is pretty much unthinkable.

Scientists now believe that bodies of liquid could have existed, provided they were comprised of carbon dioxide.

Experts have been grappling with the issues surrounding the possibility of Venusian seas for some time.

The planet’s scorching temperatures, extreme surface pressure and sulfuric acid clouds make it an extremely hot and volatile place.

Past research has suggested that long ago there was enough moisture in the atmosphere to create enormous expanses of water.

The problem is that there’s not much of a chance Venus was ever cool enough to get the precipitation process rolling.

Vast pools of liquid carbon dioxide, however, are in the realm of possibility.

Though here on Earth we’re most familiar with the compound in its gaseous state, it can become what’s known as a “supercritical” liquid if the temperature and pressure are just right.

According to the researchers involved, such conditions could have existed on Venus at one time in the distant past leaving the geological features seen today like riverlake beds.

Going forward, the team plans to more closely examine the process of the gas to liquid shift to better understand the transformation.