This observation should provide us a closer look at lava-topography interactions in this area.
Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology
![Values from an experimental series in large-volume press experiments (LVP), separated arbitrarily at 9 GPa into lower (LP) and higher pressures (HP) [in circles; (9)], and our experiments (in pentagons, DH16 to DH12) show different metal-silicate partitioning behaviors. As equilibration temperature and pressure increase S, Se, and Te, partition coefficients converge to similar, less siderophile values. -- Science Advances via PubMed](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Accretion-of-volatile-elements.png?resize=1200%2C716&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Accretion Of Volatile Elements On Earth Without The Need Of A Late Veneer
Volatile elements are essential for life development and planetary evolution. However, the timing of their delivery to terrestrial planets remains unclear. Sulfur, selenium, and tellurium are volatiles, but also siderophile […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Ocean Worlds Working Group (OWWG) Draft Traceability Available For Community Comment
The Ocean Worlds Working Group (OWWG) has released a draft traceability matrix that defines the OWWG’s driving science questions for future Ocean Worlds exploration, and the science investigations, measurements, instruments, […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Status Report
Mantle Convection And Nightside Volcanism On Lava World K2-141 b
Ultra-short period lava worlds offer a unique window into the coupled evolution of planetary interior and atmospheres under extreme irradiation.
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release
The Effect of Planetary Rotation Period on Clouds in a Global Climate Model with a Bin Microphysics Scheme
Clouds are the largest source of uncertainty in climate simulations. For exoplanets, cloud simulation is particularly challenging because of the lack of observational data to tune parameterized cloud models.
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Ionic Liquid Biospheres
Liquid is a fundamental requirement for life as we understand it, but whether that liquid has to be water is not known.
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
A Global High-Resolution Hydrological Model to Simulate the Dynamics of Surface Liquid Reservoirs: Application on Mars
Surface runoff shapes planetary landscapes, but global hydrological models often lack the resolution and flexibility to simulate dynamic surface water bodies beyond Earth. Recent studies of Mars have revealed abundant […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Sample Return, Status Report
Multiple Formation Pathways For Amino Acids In The Early Solar System Based On Carbon And Nitrogen Isotopes In Asteroid Bennu Samples
Samples collected from the carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid Bennu and delivered to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission contain organic molecules relevant to prebiotic chemistry.
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release
Earth’s Largest Acidic Geyser Is Currently Very Active
Norris Geyser Basin is known for being the hottest and most dynamic of Yellowstone National Park’s thermal areas—and that’s saying something! It is home to Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active […]
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Desert Worlds, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mars, Status Report, Terraforming & Geoengineering
Modelling The Long-term Impacts Of Artificial Warming On The Martian Water Cycle And Surface Ice Distribution
Recent papers by Ansari et al. (2024, Science Advances 10, eadn4650) and Richardson et al. (2025, arXiv eprint 2504.01455) have suggested that global warming of the Martian surface (‘terraforming’) by […]