Around 540 million years ago, Earth’s biosphere underwent a pivotal transformation, shifting from a microbe-dominated world to one teeming with animal life, as nearly all major animal phyla appeared abruptly […]
Gaia – Planetary Perspectives
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Noncanonical Genetic Markers Resolve The Pre-GOE Emergence Of Aerobic Bacteria In Earth’s History
The transition from anaerobic to aerobic life was a pivotal adaptation in Earth’s history, yet the timing and genomic drivers remain poorly resolved.
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
When Tropical Oceans On Earth Were Oxygen Oases
The tropical oceans that once served as oxygen-rich havens for Earth’s earliest complex life have become the planet’s largest marine dead zones. The dramatic reversal occurred hundreds of millions of […]
Posted inExtinction events, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Evidence Of ‘lightning-fast’ Evolution Found After Dinosaur-killing Asteroid Impact
The asteroid that struck the Earth 66 million years ago devastated life across the planet, wiping out the dinosaurs and other organisms in a hail of fire and catastrophic climate […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Press Release
How Earth’s Greenhouse Age Ended 66 Million Years Ago
A 66 million-year-old mystery behind how our planet transformed from a tropical greenhouse to the ice-capped world of today has been unravelled by scientists.
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Setting Up The Physical Principles Of Resilience In A Model Of The Earth System
Resilience is a property of social, ecological, social-ecological and biophysical systems. It describes the capacity of a system to cope with, adapt to and innovate in response to a changing […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, NASA Astrobiology Program, Status Report
Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO): Living Worlds Community Working Group: The Search for Life on Potentially Habitable Exoplanets
The discovery of a biosphere on another planet would transform how we view ourselves, and our planet Earth, in relation to the rest of the cosmos.
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Mars, Press Release
Mars Has A Large Impact On Earth’s Climate
At half the size of Earth and one-tenth its mass, Mars is a featherweight as far as planets go. And yet, new research reveals the extent to which Mars is […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Exo-Geoscience Perspectives Beyond Habitability
This article reviews the emerging field of exo-geoscience, focusing on the geological and geophysical processes thought to influence the evolution and (eu)habitability of rocky exoplanets.
![The multiple roles of methanogens in the modern-day carbon cycle. Processes shown in red contribute to greenhouse gas production. Part of the methane is removed through microbial methane oxidation (A)MO and photochemical reactions, where e is a generic electron donor (e.g., arsenate or sulfate) that is reduced to eH. Processes depicted in green sequester CO2, storing it long-term as carbonates. The size of the arrows relates to the relative biogeochemical importance of the process. The metabolic activity of methanogens may locally alter pH and produce copious amounts of EPS (seen as a veil surrounding the cells in the microphotograph (yellow arrow)). These EPS bind cations (e.g., Ca, Mg) and act as nucleation site, while elevated pH enhances the carbonate precipitation in microbial mats [196]. This contribution by methanogens may ultimately produce microbialites [183] -- preprints.org](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Methanogens-Through-Geological.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Methanogens Through Geological Time And Space: Impact On Planetary Evolution and Significance For Life Beyond Earth
Methanogens, also known as methanogenic archaea, are among the most ancient and widespread microorganisms, despite their particular requirements for growth. These oxygen-sensitive microorganisms have impacted climate and biogeochemical cycles throughout […]