New findings by Cornell University reveal Venus was once covered with oceans of carbon dioxide.

Currently, Venus' surface is hot, dry and suffocated by a thick lower atmosphere of toxic gases. But it might have had strange oceans of liquid carbon dioxide during the ancient times.

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The atmosphere of Venus is choked by liquid carbon dioxide comprising more than 96 percent of its volume, according to theoretical physicist Dima Bolmatov of Cornell University and lead study author.

Bolmatov and the research team at Cornell University performed new analysis via complex molecular computer model simulations.

The inhabitable conditions and extreme hot temperature of the planet prevents water from being sustained on its surface. The atmospheric pressure exerted by the planet is about 90 times greater than of our planet.

The study shows this extreme atmospheric pressure carbon dioxide could shape into a super critical state, a state where liquid and gas can co-exist. This could pave the way for oceans of liquid-like carbon dioxide on Venus.

Venus is often called Earth's twin despite its intolerable temperature and a surface covered with clouds of corrosive sulfuric acid. Venus is usually described as 'hellish' due to the sulfuric acid.

Both the Earth and Venus are very similar in terms of size, mass, distance from the sun and chemical composition.

"Presently, the atmosphere of Venus is mostly carbon dioxide, 96.5% by volume," Bolmatov said.

Researchers hope to conduct more experiments to identify the shift in Venus' history that might have altered the supercritical state of carbon dioxide.

Tagsvenus, carbon dioxide, CO2, solar system, planet, space exploration, Venus has Carbon Dioxide, liquid carbon dioxide, extreme atmospheric pressure