Key Takeaways
- Scientists have discovered the first observational evidence of huge underground lava tubes on Venus, surprisingly larger than expected given the planet’s strong gravity.
- A separate study proposes that a “glass ceiling” deep in Venus’ mantle explains the formation of its unique “coronae” surface features.
- Both discoveries defy long-held assumptions about planetary geology and how rocky planets like Venus and Earth evolve.
Scientists’ understanding of Venus has taken a dramatic leap forward with two groundbreaking discoveries announced in late September 2025. Researchers have not only found the first direct evidence of massive underground lava tubes but have also solved the decades-old puzzle of the planet’s distinctive “crown-like” geological formations.
An international team presented radar and topographic data revealing chains of collapsed pits near volcanoes—the telltale signature of vast underground tunnels carved by lava. The sheer scale of these Venusian lava tubes is baffling, with volumes comparable to those on the Moon. This discovery challenges conventional geology, as scientists expected Venus’s Earth-like gravity to result in much smaller tubes. The planet’s extreme surface conditions, with scorching temperatures and crushing pressure, may paradoxically help create these enormous, stable cavities.
“This is already giving away the fact that there’s likely something more on Venus playing a significant role,” explained Barbara De Toffoli, the study’s lead author.
In a separate breakthrough, researchers have solved another Venusian mystery: the origin of its unique, crown-shaped features known as “coronae.” A study led by UC San Diego’s Madeleine Kerr proposes a “glass ceiling” deep within the planet’s mantle. This barrier traps and deflects rising hot material, creating the smaller plumes that form the coronae. According to Kerr, only the most powerful plumes can break through this ceiling, forming the planet’s massive, continent-sized volcanic highlands.
These discoveries have positioned Venus as a top priority for a trio of upcoming missions: ESA’s EnVision and NASA’s VERITAS and DAVINCI. These spacecraft will carry advanced radar instruments capable of peering hundreds of meters below the surface to map these newfound lava tubes. These subterranean networks aren’t just a scientific curiosity; they could offer protected havens for future robotic explorers, shielding them from Venus’s incredibly hostile surface.