A new study suggests that Venus's pancake domes, unique volcano formations, are shaped by the planet's flexible crust. Researchers used topographical data from NASA's Magellan mission and created a model of the Narina Tholus dome. Simulations showed that a bendy crust, combined with high-density lava, best replicates the observed dome characteristics. While this study focused on one dome, future missions like NASA's VERITAS could provide more data to confirm the findings and clarify the type of lava involved.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.