Scientists discover massive hollow lava tubes on the surface of Venus

VENICE, Italy — Scientists have discovered solid evidence of a massive, hollow lava tube beneath the surface of Venus, reinforcing theories that volcanic activity played a central role in shaping the planet’s landscape.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, identified the underground structure in the Nyx Mons region. Researchers from the University of Trento reached the conclusion after analyzing radar data originally collected by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft in the 1990s.

The lava tube is estimated to be approximately one kilometer in diameter and extends for at least 45 kilometers. Scientists identified the cavity by spotting specific patterns in radar imagery that indicate localized surface collapses.

Finding underground voids is considered a major breakthrough because Venus is covered by a dense layer of clouds that makes direct surface observation impossible.

The discovery is expected to provide a roadmap for future missions to the planet, including the European Space Agency’s Envision and NASA’s Veritas. Both missions will carry advanced radar systems designed to probe the planet's surface and subsurface.

The discovery of subterranean structures on Venus represents more than a geological milestone; it serves as a powerful case study in the evolving economics of space exploration. By leveraging modern analytical techniques to extract novel insights from 30-year-old Magellan mission data, Italian researchers have demonstrated the high-alpha potential of legacy datasets. In a fiscal environment where flagship space missions carry multi-billion-dollar price tags, the ability to "recycle" archival data offers a high-return model for planetary science that maximizes previous capital outlays.

The projected scale of these Venusian lava tubes—vastly exceeding those found on Earth or Mars—points to an intensely active volcanic history. Scientists suggest that Venus’s unique environmental variables, specifically its lower gravity and crushing atmospheric density, likely facilitated the formation of these massive geological conduits. This positions the planet not merely as a terrestrial "twin" in size, but as a critical natural laboratory for studying planetary mechanics under extreme thermal and barometric stress.

The timing of this revelation carries significant implications for upcoming international missions. As NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) finalize the strategic objectives for their respective Veritas and EnVision programs, these findings provide a high-priority target for next-generation sensors. Rather than conducting broad topographical surveys, these missions can now pivot toward a targeted analysis of potential tunnel networks. This shift in focus promises to yield deeper insights into the internal structure and thermal evolution of Earth’s most enigmatic neighbor.