a cryoEM volume revealing a two-start (C2) helical filament with a pitch p and diameter of 94.6 Å and 260 Å, and a rise and twist of 3.18 Å and 12.1°, respectively; b local interaction network between neighboring cannula protofilaments in which subunits interlock through donor strand complementation along the axial (e.g., i → j → k) direction and partake in further intermolecular contacts mediated by calcium coordination along the axial and radial (e.g., j-1→j → j + 1) direction; c stick representation of three types of calcium pockets: (i) axial stacking of subunits via type I and II calcium binding centers, (ii) radial contacts are mediated via type III Ca2+ binding sites; d raw cryoEM image of a cannulae filaments loaded with a helically winding thinner filament (2 nm; cargo). White arrows denote winding cargo and dangling cargo associated with the cannulae filaments; e surface electrostatics showing a predominantly negatively charged surface and a positively charged lumen for the cannula model. The representative image in this figure (d) is derived from a total of 2365 cryo-EM movies from two technical replicates.-- Nature Communications

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Extreme Engineering – Unlocking Design Secrets of Deep-sea Microbes

by Keith CowingDecember 7, 2025

The microbe Pyrodictium abyssi is an archaeon — a member of what’s known as the third domain of life — and an extremophile. It lives in deep-sea thermal vents, at […]

The gloved hands of NASA astronaut inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox iss073e0759779 (Sept. 2, 2025) -- NASA -- larger image

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Commercial & Private Sector, Gravitational Biology, People Of Astrobiology, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report

Offworld Biology: Stem Cell Research Inside The Microgravity Science Glovebox

by Keith CowingNovember 20, 2025November 19, 2025

A top-down view inside the Destiny laboratory module’s Microgravity Science Glovebox shows the gloved arms and hands of NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Zena Cardman.

Germicidal UV light is emitted by an optical fiber running through the center of an agar plate. Researchers are testing whether microgravity changes the ability of the light to prevent growth of microbial communities known as biofilms. Credit: Arizona State University Larger image

Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Gravitational Biology, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations

Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Biofilm Inhibition (GULBI) Experiment in Microgravity

by Keith CowingNovember 5, 2025November 5, 2025

The Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Biofilm Inhibition (GULBI) experiment was launched to the to the International Space Station National Laboratory on Northrop Grumman-23.

Adaptive mechanisms of halophilic microorganisms -- Current Microbiology via PubMed

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Sample Return, Status Report

Halophiles and Halotolerants: From Industry to Astrobiology

by Keith CowingOctober 4, 2025October 4, 2025

Halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms, as members of the extremophile group, hold significant potential for both industrial applications and astrobiological research.

Professor Praveen Linga and his research team, Yunhan Ma (left) and Dr Ye Zhang (middle), at their lab, where the amino-acid-modified ice technology was developed. Credit College of Design and Engineering at NUS.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Ice Mixed With Amino Acids Stores Methane In Minutes

by Keith CowingOctober 3, 2025October 3, 2025

If you have ever cooked on a gas stove or seen a flame flicker to life with the turn of a knob, you have seen natural gas in action. Supplying […]

Journey of a noncanonical amino acid into a polypeptide. The cell takes up the ncAA from its environment or biosynthesizes it. The ncAA should not interfere with the host metabolism nor act as a toxin. To accumulate, it must not be degraded nor excreted by the cell. If its intracellular concentration reaches an adequate level, an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (AARS) activates it and charges it onto a tRNA. Discrimination against the ncAA by the editing function of some AARS prevents the downstream steps and should be avoided. An elongation factor delivers the ncAA-charged tRNA to the ribosome, where it participates in ribosomal translation. Peptide bonding stably incorporates the ncAA into the nascent polypeptide. The resulting alloprotein must be able to fold correctly and should not be degraded, e.g., by proteolytic enzymes. Chemical Reviews via PubMed

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Residue-Specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids in Auxotrophic Hosts: Quo Vadis?

by Keith CowingSeptember 25, 2025September 25, 2025

The residue-specific incorporation of noncanonical amino acids in auxotrophic hosts allows the global exchange of a canonical amino acid with its noncanonical analog.

Archaeal proteomes were systematically scanned to identify EPs with potential antimicrobial activity. Circular bars denote the log10-transformed average active (red) and inactive (blue) EPs discovered by APEX. A peptide was classified as active if its predicted mean MIC against tested bacterial strains was ≤100 μmol l−1. The values were normalized by the number of proteins per organism scanned. Archaea with peptides that were synthesized are indicated by a light red square, and those experimentally validated as active are highlighted with a dark red square. -- Nature Microbiology

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Sample Return

AI Uncovers New Antibiotics In Archaea Microbes

by Keith CowingAugust 17, 2025August 17, 2025

They’ve survived for billions of years in boiling acid, deep-sea vents and salt flats. Now, some of Earth’s oldest life forms — microbes called Archaea — are offering a new […]

(A) Equivalent complex circuit model of an electrode-electrolyte electrochemical impedimetric cell containing microorganisms and biofilm. Bacteria contribute to different mechanisms at the interface and bulk solution in an electrochemical cell. (B) bacteria in close contact with the surface contributing to the double-layer capacitance. (C) extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production contributing to the double-layer capacitance. (D) planktonic growth contributing to the bulk solution resistance. (E) proteins and macromolecules adsorption onto the electrode surface contribute to changes in the double-layer capacitance (Image Credit: Matt McGlennen, CBE) via PubMed.

Commercial & Private Sector, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Space Agriculture, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report

Mitigation And Use Of Biofilms In Space For The Benefit Of Human Space Exploration

by Keith CowingAugust 15, 2025August 15, 2025

Biofilms are self-organized communities of microorganisms that are encased in an extracellular polymeric matrix and often found attached to surfaces. Biofilms are widely present on Earth, often found in diverse […]

Cyanobacteria as an example of astrobiology and biotechnology. Cyanobacteria fulfill two important roles in Earth habitability: the production of oxygen (right) and the fixation of carbon (from atmospheric carbon dioxide, left). Cyanobacteria are credited with significantly increasing global oxygen levels around 2.4 billion years ago, which shifted our planet's redox conditions and could have spurred the evolution of eukaryotes and complex life. In the modern day, their voracious consumption of atmospheric carbon dioxide can be harnessed to again shift planetary-scale processes by sequestering carbon as biomass, carbonate, or biofuel products. -- EarthRx

Astrobiology (general), Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Career Opportunities, Commercial & Private Sector, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report

A Search for Life In The Universe Advances Life on Earth

by Keith CowingAugust 15, 2025August 15, 2025

Astrobiology, while traditionally focused on understanding the origin of life on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere, offers powerful tools and insights for addressing urgent challenges on our planet.

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

New Study Reveals Simple Peptides Can Mimic Nature’s Protein Protection Strategy

by Keith CowingAugust 6, 2025August 6, 2025

A new study from researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) reveals that extremely simple peptides can mimic a biological process that protects […]

Commercial & Private Sector

Extreme Engineering – Unlocking Design Secrets of Deep-sea Microbes

Offworld Biology: Stem Cell Research Inside The Microgravity Science Glovebox

Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Biofilm Inhibition (GULBI) Experiment in Microgravity

Halophiles and Halotolerants: From Industry to Astrobiology

Ice Mixed With Amino Acids Stores Methane In Minutes

Residue-Specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids in Auxotrophic Hosts: Quo Vadis?

AI Uncovers New Antibiotics In Archaea Microbes

Mitigation And Use Of Biofilms In Space For The Benefit Of Human Space Exploration

A Search for Life In The Universe Advances Life on Earth

New Study Reveals Simple Peptides Can Mimic Nature’s Protein Protection Strategy

Material Cycling Across Earth’s Spheres And Triggers Of Cambrian Explosion: A Tectonic Perspective

Where Does Earth’s Nitrogen Go? Two Atoms Offer A Clue

Exotic Methanol Discovered In Planet-Building Zones

More Than One Thousand TESS Planets

First Detection Of Variable Water Clouds Outside Of Our Solar System

AGU annual Meeting 2026

Community Workshop: The Mission to Enceladus – The ESA L4 Mission

Rogue Worlds 3

NRAO CosmicAI Virtual Winter School

American Astronomical Society AAS 249th Meeting