Origin & Evolution of Life Archives

Illustration of liposome protection from UV. The top panel shows a drawing of the crater. The top- and sideview photographs show the intensity distribution of the blue color after UV exposure. When subjected to UV radiation, the liposomes go through a color change from the original white to blue, with the color intensity correlated with the level of physical destruction of the liposomes. Furthermore, the liposomes change to red when exposed to high heat. The experiment shows that liposomes located at the edges and not covered by the solution turn to blue and then to red within the first few seconds of UV exposure, likely due to the combined effects of UV and heat emitted from the lamp. Liposomes covered by the solution demonstrate a gradual change of the blue color from deep-blue for those at the edge to less intense and almost transparent, deeper toward the center. Even after more than two hours of UV exposure, the liposomes in the crater’s center stayed intact. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Impact events, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Sample Return, Status Report

Experimental And Numerical Modeling Of Liposome Congregation In Meteorite Craters Of Early Earth

by Keith CowingFebruary 25, 2026February 25, 2026

This paper provides experimental and numerical evidence supporting the occurrence of liposome congregation at the floors of meteor craters on Early Earth.

An idealized schematic for some of the key sequential events in the establishment of the ribosome, starting from the situation in which a parasitic RNA takes advantage of a membrane-bound protocell containing ribonucleotide and amino acid resources used in viral replication, and graduating to a mutualism in which the host cell provides all of the ingredients essential to ribosome replication, and the ribosome engages with host mRNAs to produce proteins of joint utility. Arizona State University

Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

A Parasitic Origin For The Ribosome?

by Keith CowingFebruary 25, 2026February 25, 2026

Ribosomes are the components of cells that read RNA and build proteins. Without the ribosome, the chemistry of life would still be catalyzed by raw RNA. And yet the origin […]

AtubAB dynamic instability revealed by TIRF microscopy. (A) Inset: assay design; biotinylated, GMPCPP-stabilised AtubAB dimers (labelled with 20% Alexa Fluor 647, shown as red) were anchored via NeutrAvidin to PEG Silane. Free AtubAB dimers (4 µM 20% Atto 488-labelled, cyan) were added, and filament polymerisation was observed by TIRF (total internal reflection fluorescence) microscopy. Field view revealing red GMPCPP seeds with plus- and minus-end growth (cyan). Only this used 20% tagged (unlabelled) AtubAhBs to observe dynamics at high concentrations needed for field views. Scale bar = 10 µm. B) Timelapse of plus-end growth of untagged AtubAB filament. The 10th image down shows the moment just after catastrophe, the ultra-rapid depolymerisation of the mini microtubule. Scale bar 5 µm. C) Kymograph (time vertical, filament axis horizontal) showing an untagged AtubAB filament growing and undergoing catastrophe at the plus-end. One growth episode (line) and one catastrophe event (arrowhead) are highlighted - it is the same as in panel B. Scale bars, 2 min / 2 µm. See also Supplementary Figures S4A & B and Movie M5. D) Asgard archaeal 4- pf mini microtubules show all the hallmarks of eukaryotic 13-protofilament microtubules - but are much thinner. We therefore suggest it is possible that Asgard mini microtubules are the evolutionary precursors of eukaryotic microtubules. Arrows do not indicate evolutionary distances or complexity. -- biorxiv.org

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Asgard Archaeal Origin Of Microtubules

by Keith CowingFebruary 25, 2026February 25, 2026

Eukaryotic cells change their shapes, actively segregate their DNA and contain membrane networks, facilitated by a complex cytoskeleton containing actin filaments, microtubules made from tubulin, and other components.

Dale Andersen and his research team have completed their traverse abs have arrived at the Ultima Air Base -- Garmin/Google Earth

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Life Support Systems, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 19 February 2026: Return Overland Traverse From Lake Untersee

by Keith CowingFebruary 19, 2026February 19, 2026

Dale: Arrived UAL airbase about 2:45 on UTC/GMT after a 5 hr 45 min drive across the polar landscape! Very windy morning but great ride back!

Don Juan Pond: Source: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio, Landsat 7 Project Science Office; MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Wikipedia

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Draft Genomes Of Three Abundant Bacterial Isolates From Hypersaline Don Juan Pond, Antarctica

by Keith CowingFebruary 19, 2026February 19, 2026

Don Juan Pond (DJP) is a hypersaline, CaCl2-rich brine within Wright Valley, Antarctica (77.565 S, 161.174 E; 1). DJP is one of the most saline brines on the planet and […]

In December 2025, Brett Baker led a research cruise to collect microbial genomes off the coast of Uruguay. In this photo, Tyler Smith pilots a remotely operated vehicle collecting shallow coastal sediments. Credit: Brett Baker.

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

A Break In A Longstanding Mystery About The Origin Of Complex Life

by Keith CowingFebruary 18, 2026February 18, 2026

The most widely accepted scientific explanation for the arrival of all complex life on Earth has had an unsolved mystery at its heart. According to the theory, all plants, animals […]

Birgit Sattler assists Dale Andersen as he begins a diver underneath the ice cover of Lake Untersee, Antarctica -- credit: Klemens Weisleitner

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Life Support Systems, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Origin & Evolution of Life, People Of Astrobiology, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 15 February 2026: Diving Under The Ice At Lake Untersee

by Keith CowingFebruary 17, 2026February 17, 2026

Keith, Sorry for the quiet—our days have been packed, and out here every usable hour feels borrowed. Since my last report the weather has changed its mind a few times. […]

Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. (Credit: CC photo via Wikimedia Commons) -- via CU Boulder

Astrobiology (general), Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, NASA Astrobiology Program, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Astrobiologists Search For Alien Life And Help Life On Earth In The Process

by Keith CowingFebruary 17, 2026February 17, 2026

On Earth, life thrives in some of the most seemingly inhospitable environments.

The Miller-Urey experiment that was used to demonstrate the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules in a hypothetical primitive reducing atmosphere. — UCSD

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Theoretical Perspective On Synthetic Life: Learning From The Origin Of Life

by Keith CowingFebruary 16, 2026February 16, 2026

Creating a man‐made life in the laboratory is one of life science’s most intriguing yet challenging problems.

Predicted secondary structure of QT45 ribozyme with nucleotide color corresponding to fitness for each of the three possible single mutations at each position, displayed in the same order as the three representative mutations shown and colored as in Fig. 2E. Base pair annotations are provided, where the upper rectangle connecting two bases shows the average fitness or epistasis of measured base pair-breaking double mutations. For canonical base pairs, the inner small rectangles show (from left to right) the fitness or epistasis of mutations to base pairs UG, UA, GC, CG, AU, GU. For the non-canonical base pair C11-U35, the base pairs shown are UG, UA, GC, UC, CU, CG, AU, GU. (A) Base pair annotations are colored according to fitness. Base pair-retaining mutations generally have higher fitness than base pair-breaking mutations. (B) Base pair annotations are colored according to epistasis. Base pair-retaining mutations generally show more positive epistasis compared to base pair-breaking mutations. -- Science

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

A Small Polymerase Ribozyme That Can Synthesize Itself And Its Complementary Strand

by Keith CowingFebruary 16, 2026February 16, 2026

The emergence of a chemical system capable of self-replication and evolution is a critical event in the origin of life.

Origin & Evolution of Life

Experimental And Numerical Modeling Of Liposome Congregation In Meteorite Craters Of Early Earth

A Parasitic Origin For The Ribosome?

Asgard Archaeal Origin Of Microtubules

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 19 February 2026: Return Overland Traverse From Lake Untersee

Draft Genomes Of Three Abundant Bacterial Isolates From Hypersaline Don Juan Pond, Antarctica

A Break In A Longstanding Mystery About The Origin Of Complex Life

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 15 February 2026: Diving Under The Ice At Lake Untersee

Astrobiologists Search For Alien Life And Help Life On Earth In The Process

Theoretical Perspective On Synthetic Life: Learning From The Origin Of Life

A Small Polymerase Ribozyme That Can Synthesize Itself And Its Complementary Strand

On The Foundations Of Anthropic Reasoning: Implications For Life Across The Universe

NASA Curation Community Conversation Webinar

The Atmospheric Chemistry and Surface Interactions on Mars (ACSIOM) Workshop 2025

An ALMA View On Molecular Complexity: Water, Methanol, And Methyl Formate In The HD 100546 And IRS 48 Disks

The Occurrence of Circumbinary Planets Around TESS M-dwarf Eclipsing Binaries