Commercial & Private Sector Archives

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Comets and Asteroids, Commercial & Private Sector, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations

BioAsteroid Payload On Orbit

by Keith CowingJanuary 15, 2021February 3, 2026

Inside one of the containers of this 40-cm-across miniature laboratory in orbit, a battle is set to start between asteroid-like fragments and rock-hungry microbes, to probe their use for space […]

A preflight view of BioAsteroid Experiment Unit where the BioAsteroid investigation is performed integrated into the Experiment Container for the BioAsteroid investigation. Each Experiment Unit has two culture chambers. Credits: ESA

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Comets and Asteroids, Commercial & Private Sector, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations

Microbes To Demonstrate Biomining Of Asteroid Material Aboard The Space Station

by Keith CowingDecember 3, 2020February 3, 2026

As humanity moves closer to the possibility of living and working millions of miles from Earth on planets like Mars, scientists are looking beyond our planet at how to acquire […]

This fluorescent work of art captures the beauty of biofilms, or the growth of microbes on rocks. In this microscopic image, Sphingomonas desiccabilis is growing on basalt. It is one of three microbes chosen for the BioRock experiment, run by a research team from the University of Edinburgh in the UK, that will test how altered states of gravity affect biofilm formation on the International Space Station.

Commercial & Private Sector, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Building An Extra-terrestrial Habitat – One Microbe At A Time

by Keith CowingNovember 12, 2020April 12, 2024

We are making good progress towards going to the Moon and Mars.

Hydrothermal vents explored during a 2019 expedition to Gorda Ridge off the California Coast on Exploration Vessel Nautilus. Image courtesy of OET/NOAA.

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return

Extremophiles: Untapped Source of Antibacterial Drugs

by Keith CowingNovember 24, 2014August 4, 2025

One of the most mysterious forms of life may turn out to be a rich and untapped source of antibacterial drugs.

Tricorder (biosignature detector) -- Paramount

Press Release

Making Science Fiction a Science Reality: Finalist Teams Selected for $10 Million Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE

by Keith CowingAugust 27, 2014June 27, 2026

XPRIZE, the global leader in incentivized prize competitions, today announced the 10 finalist teams competing for the $10M Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, a 3.5-year global competition sponsored by the Qualcomm Foundation […]

Ames scientists and students from the Undergraduate Student Research Program and Foothill DeAnza Community College worked with the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant, Calif., to measure the methane oxidized by microbes in its open ponds. Image credit: Drew Detweiler

Commercial & Private Sector, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Plant Biology, Press Release

NASA’s Astrobiology Research Sparks ‘GreenTech’ Revolution

by Keith CowingMarch 12, 2012April 13, 2024

NASA’s astrobiologists study microbial life to understand how it transformed a rocky Earth into the thriving, diverse, life-sustaining planet we inhabit today. These studies of photosynthetic ‘green’ algae are creating […]

Astrobiology (general), Commercial & Private Sector

Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences – 2011 (ROSES-2011) Release Planned for Feb 18, 2011

by Keith CowingFebruary 19, 2011

NNH11ZDA001N, entitled “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences – 2011 (ROSES-2011),” will be available on or about February 18, 2011, by opening the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ […]

Commercial & Private Sector

European Commission 7th Framework Program, Space Theme FP7-Space-2011-1: Call for Proposals

by Keith CowingNovember 12, 2010

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/understand_en.html The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research has published a series of calls for proposals under the ‘Cooperation’, ‘Capacities’, ‘People’ and ‘Ideas’ Programs of the Seventh Framework Program (FP7). One […]

Commercial & Private Sector

Scientific Problem-Solving Benefits from Open Collaboration

by Keith CowingDecember 19, 2008

Combine prize-driven innovation with the vast communication capability of the web and what do you get? Solutions. A July 22, 2008 New York Times article, If You Have a Problem, […]

Commercial & Private Sector, Missions & Hardware, Space Life Science

Small Satellites as Platforms for Science

by Keith CowingJune 8, 2006

A satellite session is scheduled for November 2, 2006, from 2-5 p.m., the day before the 22nd annual ASGSB meeting officially starts. The title of the session is “Small Satellites […]