Okay. So the presence of ice on Mars suggests water,
either now or sometime in the past.
Yes. It's very exciting.
And on Europa, the presence of an ocean below the ice is also promising
because it means that conditions could be right for life to develop there too.
Exactly. And there's potentially been enough time for life to evolve.
That means Europa's definitely a place for NASA to keep researching.
Not so fast, Snoopy.
We haven't found life yet. Just the potential for life. We haven't found life yet. Just the potential for life.
It's big, but it's not "root beer" big.
Hey!
Marcie and Franklin are right.
But hopefully, we will discover something that's "root beer" big very soon.
I'll check back later.
So, where should we look next?
What about this planet? It's about the same size as Earth.
And the same roundness as your head.
That's Venus, Charles.
Named for the Roman goddess of love.
Goddess of love?
That sounds like the perfect place. Doesn't it, my Sweet Babboo?
I'm not your Sweet Babboo.
It's funny that it's named after the goddess of love
because Venus is actually a very harsh and unpleasant place.
Sounds like love to me.
Valentine's Day! A chance for people to show you how much they care.
I got something this year.
I can't stand it.
It's still the best valentine I ever got.
Sorry, Charles.
But according to my research, finding life on Venus would be very unlikely.
I still think we should consider it. I've never been one to give up.
Ow!
Despite all evidence that you should.
Marcie's right. I guess it was a pretty silly idea.
Venus does seem like an unlikely place for life.
For one thing,
it's got the thickest atmosphere of all the rocky planets in the solar system.
The thick atmosphere traps the sun's heat. So Venus is incredibly hot.
Day-at-the-beach hot, or fresh-out-of-the-oven-apple-pie hot?
Much hotter. Around 462 degrees Celsius.
That's over 860 degrees Fahrenheit.
What? I know stuff.
Venus is also exceptionally dry.
And don't forget the wind. It's stronger than a tornado.
It sure doesn't sound like the kind of place we'd find life.
It's not. Even the air is poisonous.
Although, there is evidence that there are underground caves on Venus.
I suppose it's possible life could exist down there.
Of course, those caves were made by volcanoes. So they might be full of lava.
- Well, scratch Venus off the list. - Agreed.
It doesn't seem like the kind of place that could support life as we know it.
Well, what about life as we don't know it?
Don't be a blockhead, Charlie Brown.
Actually, Charlie Brown makes a good point. Actually, Charlie Brown makes a good point.
- He does? - I do?
You bet.
Part of the search for life is considering the possibility
that life may exist in ways we don't fully comprehend yet.
Why, even here on Earth there are examples of life we barely understand.
From microscopic organisms living in superheated vents
at the bottom of the ocean
to bacteria that somehow survive in volcanic acid lakes.
Earth is full of life that lives in extreme and unusual environments.
So it's possible life might exist on Venus after all?
You never know, Charlie Brown.
There could even be tiny life forms living in Venus's atmosphere.
Imagine that.
Life floating above it all, surviving against the odds.
Life as we don't know it? Who would've thought?
Charlie Brown. That's who.
Good ol' Charlie Brown.
Way to go, big brother!
Thanks, Snoopy. To life!
There goes the solar system.
Good grief.