A European Spacecraft Is About to Fly Past Venus (opens in new tab)

> Unlikely to provide a strong confirmation or repudiation of the current data because it’s instruments are not designed for it.

Next year's fly-by has a better chance of confirming it as it will be much closer (although it will still be barely within the abilities of the instruments).

the adjustment of these fly-bys are about independently confirming the phosphine presence, which might or might not indicate life (through unknown physical processes)

The original nature article says unknown geological forces or chemistry was a possible explanation too...which seems more likely. Unfortunately popular science articles are more likely to write headlines as "Aliens!" than admit ignorance of geology or chemistry.

So remember when you're feeling very small and insecure How amazingly unlikely is your birth And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space Cause there's bugger-all down here on Earth