Cosmic Dust Could Have Helped Get Life Going on Earth Feb. 28, 2024 While prebiotic chemicals such as sugars and amino acids are known to appear in asteroids and comets, a new study shows that cosmic dust also seeded young Earth. Read more Image
Cosmic Building Blocks of Life Discovered through Electron Microscope Feb. 27, 2024 A team of researchers has examined the Winchcombe meteorite and demonstrated the existence in it of nitrogen compounds without applying any chemical treatment and by using a new type of detector design. Read more Image
Subglacial Microbial Life on Earth and Beyond Feb. 23, 2024 The search for life beyond Earth fascinates many and inspires big questions: Are we truly alone in the universe? Is our Earth unique? Is it possible that life beyond Earth may actually be far from little green aliens and much closer to the microbial life with which we share our planet? Read more Image
Kepler Giant Planet Search: an Aid to “Figure Out Where to Find Life” Feb. 21, 2024 A team of astrophysicists has created the first-ever catalog of small, Earth-like planets with Jupiter-like siblings, a critical component in the search for life elsewhere in our universe. Read more Image
Saturn’s Largest Moon Most Likely Uninhabitable Feb. 16, 2024 A study of the subsurface ocean of Titan—the largest moon of Saturn—shows that it’s most likely a non-habitable environment, meaning any hope of finding life in the icy world is dead in the water. Read more Image
Testing Shows Some Bacteria Could Survive under Mars Conditions Feb. 14, 2024 An international team of radiation specialists, biologists and infectious disease experts has found four types of bacteria that are capable of surviving exposure to the hostile Mars environment. Read more Image
Scientists Identify Water Molecules on Asteroids for the First Time Feb. 13, 2024 Scientists have discovered, for the first time, water molecules on the surface of an asteroid. Read more Image
Mimas' Surprise: Tiny Moon Holds Young Ocean beneath Icy Shell Feb. 12, 2024 Hidden beneath the heavily cratered surface of Mimas, one of Saturn's smallest moons lies a secret: a global ocean of liquid water. Read more Image
Atmospheres in the TRAPPIST-1 System Should be Long Gone Feb. 9, 2024 Imagine exploring a system of life-rich worlds within easy traveling distance of each other. It’s a wonderful dream, but as a new study shows it isn’t likely that life exists in the system. It’s more likely the planets are barren and stripped of their atmospheres. Read more Image
Domains of Life Sciences in Spacefaring: What, Where, and How to Get Involved Feb. 8, 2024 The integration of biology and spacefaring has led to the development of three interrelated fields: Astrobiology, Bioastronautics, and Space Bioprocess Engineering. Read more Image