New research suggests that Venus may never have possessed liquid water oceans. That would mean "Earth's evil twin" was always hostile to life.

Earth is an ocean world, with water covering about 71% of its surface. Venus, our closest planetary neighbor, is sometimes called Earth's twin based on their similar size and rocky composition. While its surface is baked and barren today,

Our sister planet is thought to have once been a habitable world, but a new study could change that narrative and alter the search for life.

Instead of condensing on the planet's surface, any water in Venus' atmosphere likely remained as steam, suggests the research from the University of Cambridge.

Astronomers have speculated for decades that Venus could once have been remarkably similar to Earth – and might have been able to support life like our own planet