India, Sept. 20 -- Scientists have long speculated why Venus, with a similar size, mass, and structure to Earth, doesn't have a moon. New UC Riverside research shows it's because our hungry twin likely swallowed it.

In the past, scientists have theorised that Venus possibly had a moon at one time that got hit with something massive, obliterating it. Other theories centered around the idea that Venus never underwent a collision that formed a moon in the first place.

The new research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, shows that neither theory fits. "My study shows Venus didn't require a catastrophe to arrive at what we can see today," said UCR astrophysicist and lead author Stephen Kane. "It turns out the gravity of the planet itse...