“We are still recovering from the damaging winds that trashed the camp, but as soon as things calm down we will get busy and pull it all back together.” “The […]
Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes
Astrobiologist Dale Andersen Antarctic Status Report 6 November 2018: Wind Damage
“Our winds have continued unabated likely hitting 40-50 m/s at times.” “We did lose four of our tents yesterday despite our best efforts to save them – the winds were […]
Subsurface Exolife
We study the prospects for life on planets with subsurface oceans, and find that a wide range of planets can exist in diverse habitats with relatively thin ice envelopes We […]
A Strange Methane-fueled Ecosystem Found In Flooded Yucatan Caves
In the underground rivers and flooded caves of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where Mayan lore described a fantastical underworld, scientists have found a cryptic world in its own right. Here, methane […]
Astrobiologist Dale Andersen Antarctic Status Report 28 November 2017: Last Week at Lake Untersee
This message was received via Iridium on 28 November 28, 2017 8:13:28 AM EST “We are in our last week of work here at Untersee before heading back to Novo […]
Astrobiologist Dale Andersen Antarctic Status Report 26 November 2017: Busy Days at Lake Untersee
Dale Andersen sent this message on 26 November 2017 at :09:26 AM EST: “We are working pretty hard while taking advantage of the nice days we have had recently. I […]
Secret Life May Thrive In Warm Caves Under Antarctica's Glaciers
A new study led by ANU has found that animals and plants may live in warm caves under Antarctica’s glaciers. Around Mount Erebus, an active volcano on Ross Island in […]
Microbes Can Create Dripstones
According to new research humble, microscopic organisms can create dripstones in caves. This illustrates how biological life can influence the formation of Earth’s geology – and the same may be […]
ESA's CAVES: Searching for Life in Strange Places
Last year schoolchildren were invited to dig up some earth in search of creepy-crawlies and underground life. Astronauts taking part in ESA’s underground training course CAVES joined the worldwide experiment […]
A Living Desert Underground
In the perpetual darkness of a limestone cave, UA researchers have discovered a surprisingly diverse ecosystem of microbes eking out a living from not much more than drip water, rock […]
