Scientists Confirm Massive Underground Tunnels on Venus

We’ve known for quite some time that molten rock gouged enormous tunnels into the surface of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars.

In fact, scientists have proposed that the vast lava tubes under the surface of the Moon and Mars could one day serve as homes for space colonists that provide shelter from space radiation and micrometeorite strikes.

Now, as New Scientist reports, researchers have confirmed that lava tubes also exist on Venus, our closest — and hellishly hot — planetary neighbor.

Surprisingly, the subterranean tunnels appear to have a lot more in common with those found on the Moon than on Earth.

It’s an unexpected finding, since Venus’ mass and gravity are more similar to the Earth than the Moon. Scientists have previously found that lava tubes tend to be larger when there’s less