atmosphere

I read that it is because oxygen and nitrogen absorb solar energy. Nitrogen I can understand, but oxygen? What exactly am I missing here?

It is often claimed that Venus surface temperature as high as 450 - 500 degrees Celsius suggests a carbon dioxide greenhouse effect (around 96.5% of its atmosphere consists of CO2). However, if one deals with the question in an unprejudiced, honest way, then the hypothesis of such a greenhouse...

The atmospheric pressure of mars is much lower than that of earth. Is it so much lower that it would instantly kill a human outside without a space suit, such as the famous scene from the movie 'Total Recall'? Would it be possible to stand on mars with nothing but an oxygen tank and mask? To...